The NISS New Researchers Network organized the webinar on "Mastering Communication Skills for Collaborative Research in Statistics & Data Science" that took place on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 2-3:30pm ET featuring Speakers: Sahar Zangeneh, RTI International & University of Washington; Joel Dubin, University of Waterloo; and Justin Strait, Los Alamos National Laboratory; which was moderated by Sharmistha Guha, Texas A&M University. The panelists discussed the importance of effective communication and collaboration in research projects, emphasizing the need for clear and succinct writing, documentation, and understanding of different scientific fields. They also shared their experiences and insights on collaborations, highlighting the importance of gaining experience, project management skills, and mutual respect in collaborative research. The conversation ended with a discussion on preferred software for statistical analysis and the value of literacy in the scientific domain for effective collaboration.
Mastering Communication in Collaborative Research | Sharmistha moderated a session on mastering communication skills for collaborative research in statistics and data science. The panelists, Joel Dubin, Sahar Zangeneh, and Justin Strait, shared their experiences and insights on collaborations. Joel discussed his collaborations in academia, primarily with public health researchers. Sahar shared her experiences working with various clients, including the CDC, NIH, and private sector clients. Justin, a statistician at Los Alamos, described his collaborations with engineers, physicists, and geoscientists. The panelists also discussed what they learned after completing their education, with Joel emphasizing the importance of gaining experience in collaborations, Justin highlighting the need for project management and time management skills, and Seher reflecting on the importance of acquired skills in collaborative research.
Effective Communication in Collaborations | Sahar emphasized the importance of effective communication with collaborators from different backgrounds, suggesting that understanding their language and terminology can facilitate better collaboration. She also highlighted the need for maintaining quality work, even when faced with last-minute requests or pressure to compromise. Sahar stressed the importance of mutual respect and clear communication in collaborations. Joel agreed, adding that it's crucial to convey the role of a statistician as a collaborator rather than a consultant, and to avoid being contacted only when there's an emergency. The team also discussed the need for a non-technical book on statistics for clinicians to understand, with Jessica's "Seeing Through Statistics" and a book on study design and analysis for common epidemiological studies being suggested.
Addressing Communication Barriers in Research | The team discussed common barriers to effective communication in collaborative research. Justin highlighted the issue of scientists not having a clear understanding of the questions they're trying to answer, which can hinder collaboration. He suggested that gaining familiarity with the subject matter can help bridge the gap between the scientists' objectives and the statisticians' perspective. Joel agreed, emphasizing the importance of defining a common scientific question to guide the research. Sahar added that not all questions are well-defined, and complex problems may require time and effort to solve. She shared an example from her work on chronic kidney disease, where it took a consortium of 70 people eight months to identify the best marker for the disease. The team agreed that problem-solving and communication are key to overcoming these barriers.
Leading Training Sessions and Conflict Management | Sharmistha and Sahar discussed the possibility of statisticians leading training sessions to explain their work. Sahar suggested putting a follow-up question to clarify what was meant by "lead". Sharmistha also raised a question about finding an open-source book for an undergraduate research methods course with a statistics component. Sahar recommended epidemiological books but noted that an open-source book might not be available yet. Sharmistha then asked for techniques to manage conflicts or misunderstandings in collaborative projects. Sahar suggested documenting everything and using technology like Teams for easy reference. Joel added that communication and mutual respect are crucial in resolving conflicts, and if these are not achievable, it might be necessary to separate and work separately.
Managing Conflicts and Communication Styles | Sahar shared her experience of a conflict with a colleague, which she attributed to inherent biases and personality differences. She emphasized the importance of keeping communications in writing to avoid misunderstandings and protect oneself. Sahar also highlighted the value of casual, non-business-related conversations to better understand team members' personalities and communication styles. Justin agreed, suggesting that face-to-face interactions can help mitigate conflicts and improve collaboration. Joel concurred, noting the importance of mutual respect and understanding in team communication, especially when in-person interactions are not possible.
Building Collaborative Partnerships for Researchers | The participants discussed the importance of building strong collaborative partnerships for early career researchers. Sahar emphasized the value of taking every opportunity to learn and collaborate, even if the project's impact is not significant. She also highlighted the importance of being efficient and adaptable as one's career progresses. Joel stressed the need to understand the reward structure in one's workplace and balance collaborative work with methodological developments. Justin advised putting oneself out there through networking, attending talks, and giving talks to non-statisticians. The group also considered the idea of forming committees for further collaboration.
Software Choice and Collaboration Importance | Sharmistha, Sahar, Justin, and Joel discussed their preferred software for statistical analysis, with R, Python, and Matlab being the most commonly used. They agreed that the choice of software should be agnostic to the choice of methodology. Sahar emphasized the importance of gaining literacy in the scientific domain to facilitate effective collaboration. Joel and Sahar stressed the importance of being seen as a collaborator in the scientific process, rather than just a numbers person. They also discussed the importance of early involvement in study and design aspects to foster effective collaboration.
Improving Communication in Research Projects | Sahar, Justin, and Joel discussed the importance of effective communication and collaboration in research projects. They emphasized the need for clear and succinct writing, especially when working with subject-level experts. Sahar suggested using Purdue University's free writing center as a resource for improving writing skills. Justin and Joel stressed the importance of documenting code and research meetings for future reference and to facilitate collaboration. They also highlighted the value of learning about other scientific fields and journals to improve communication and collaboration. The panelists concluded by encouraging attendees to find a common language with collaborators from different backgrounds to enhance effective communication.