No matter the field of work, I believe that collaboration amongst peers is significant for overall success. By working with others, you gain diverse perspectives and enhanced creativity which can lead to better innovation and problem-solving. Collaborating with individuals from different disciplines brings together a variety of perspectives, experiences, and expertise. This diversity can lead to innovative solutions and a more comprehensive understanding of complex problems. At the same time, however, collaboration comes with its obstacles such as communication barriers and differences in approaches or methodologies. Each discipline has its own specialized language and jargon, which can create communication challenges when collaborating across disciplines. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations may occur, requiring effort and patience to overcome. Different disciplines may have distinct approaches, methodologies, and problem-solving strategies. Harmonizing these diverse approaches can be complex, as individuals may need to adapt their methods or find common ground. Additionally, some might be resistant to change to accommodate such differences. The benefits certainly outweigh the obstacles of collaboration, which can be worked through as well.
When considering the projects of other students, a common similarity I see is the structure of projects. Everyone is working towards a specific goal with a distinct purpose. We all are interested in some disease or bodily function and are investigating the specifics behind it whether it be causation factor or effect factor or maybe even both. In terms of differences, the biggest one I see that although many of us come from the same background, like biochemistry or neuroscience, each project is vastly different in that it is highly specialized. Every project seems intriguing to me, however, the projects that involve mice models are unique to me since it is interesting to see how research worked on mice translates to the human body.
Through this fellowship, I hope to learn more about the different fields everyone comes from to gain more exposure within the healthcare field. I feel that each field has lots of opportunities and knowledge to offer. Additionally, I hope to learn how everyone approaches challenges within their projects. I feel it would be beneficial to learn specific strategies others use to overcome obstacles in their research because it can be applied in any field. Lastly, I hope to learn more about communicating and presenting research from other HSRF recipients. As future healthcare professionals, I believe that communicating research and communication in general is a critical skill. I look forward to talking and collaborating with my peers throughout the summer!
