Excellence Everywhere - National University of Ireland, Galway

Learn how to propose and organize collaborativeprojects with researchers from both developedand developing countries. Collaborative projectshave the advantage of:• Increasing the number of possible sourcesof funding,• Taking advantage of economies of scaleby spreading the fixed costs acrossparticipants, and• Becoming more interesting or appealing forfunding agencies, given that comparativeprojects generate more information thansingle-country projects.”Gilbert Brenes Comacho, Costa Ricaone for your laboratory, be sure to ask in advancewhether your collaborator will use company fundingfor his or her work on your joint project. If so,you can ask your institution’s technology transferoffice or a person knowledgeable in law andcontracts to help you determine whether there arerestrictions that apply to your share of the work.It may be possible to negotiate an agreementthat limits the effect your collaborator’s fundingarrangements have on you (see chapter 12 onintellectual property for more information aboutcompany-sponsored research).Someone above you at your institution may tryto abuse the potential collaboration by pressuringyour collaborator to provide resources or makepayments beyond what is needed to do the project,or may even try to block your collaboration in favorof pushing you to work with a different researcher.You do not want to undermine your position atyour institution, so proceed carefully. It may bevery useful to be open with trusted collaboratorsabout the source of the delay. “Office politics”and over-reaching administrators exist all over theworld, and understanding the situation may helpkeep your potential collaborator from giving up infrustration.THE INGREDIENTSOF A SUCCESSFULCOLLABORATIONOnce your agreement is in place and your expectationsare clear, you and your collaborator canfocus on keeping your lines of communication openand maintaining attitudes of mutual considerationand respect.Keeping the Linesof Communication OpenAn open, trusting relationship is essential if youwant to be able to discuss problems candidlyand give and receive critical feedback. In a goodcollaboration, participants stay in close touch andare accessible to one another. Make it a practiceto return your collaborator’s calls and emails asquickly as you can, even if only to set a moreconvenient time for a conversation. Make fulfillingyour promises to collaborators a significant priority.Having a student from one lab go spend time inthe other may help build connections between thetwo research groups and get the work flowing.When you are involved in a high-stakes collaboration,you may need to consider what you will dowith your time if your collaborative work andyour regular responsibilities make simultaneousdemands. If you put off your collaborators’ interests,you may be seen as unreliable, unserious,or not good at following through. If you put offlocal issues, though, you may be seen as selfabsorbed,untrue to your roots, or as a carelesspower-seeker. Whichever way you divide yourenergies, there are risks. Being direct and honestabout what is delaying you, why it must beattended to first, and how you plan to fulfill yourobligations is often the best way to negotiatethis difficult balance. If you are unable to offerexplanations, however, delegating some part ofthe work to a reliable helper may help you getthrough an immediate time crunch. But be sure tofollow up with personal attention, whether to yourlocal colleagues or those at other sites, as soon asyou get a chance.collaboration151