Fostering collaboration early in researchers' careers

Earlier this week, the Georgia Research Alliance brought together young scientists from the labs of six GRA Eminent Scholars  and challenged them to develop a joint research proposal.  The idea for the session came from the Eminent Scholars, who see great potential in building collaborations early.  The group of 15 from the labs of GRA Eminent Scholars Barbara Boyan (Georgia Tech), Julia Hilliard (GSU). Guido Silvestri (Emory), Jeff Skolnick (Georgia Tech), Andrew Mellor (GHSU)  and Eberhard Voit (Georgia Tech) worked together for a day and half to produce the first stages of a proposal which will be refined over the next several months.  GRA will provide seed funding to carry out the research.

Feedback from the participants emphasized the value of broadening perspectives beyond their own research and the challenge of gaining consensus from a large group in a small amount of time.