Abstract
Multidisciplinary research has the potential to address pressing global challenges. When working across disciplinary boundaries, brain and behavioural scientists can contribute to technological developments that enhance human health, safety, well-being and performance. However, multidisciplinary research comes with its own unique challenges that can hinder team communication, cohesion and research progress. In this article, I share tips that can help readers to navigate the challenges of working in multidisciplinary applied research. It is important for researchers in diverse teams to gain cross-disciplinary literacy and self-confidence that enables them to contribute their full potential, and to engage teammates in a way that fosters collaboration based on effective communication and shared motivations. Ultimately, overcoming these challenges is a key step towards realising the benefits of multidisciplinary research to science and technology, and also contributes to the personal and professional development of individual researchers.
References
Ledford H. How to solve the world’s biggest problems. Nature. 2015;525(7569):308–311. doi: 10.1038/525308a.
Leahey E, Barringer SN, Ring-Ramirez M. Universities’ structural commitment to interdisciplinary research. Scientometrics. 2019;118(3):891–919. doi: 10.1007/s11192-018-2992-3
Institute of Medicine. Barriers to Interdisciplinary Research and Training. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2000. p. 41–57. doi: 10.17226/9942.
Tushman M, O’Reilly C. Research and relevance: Implications of Pasteur’s quadrant for doctoral programs and faculty development. Academy of Management Journal. 2007;50(4):769–774. doi: 10.5465/amj.2007.26279169.
Ding K, Dragomir A, Bose R, Osborn LE, Seet MS, Bezerianos A, et al. Towards machine to brain interfaces: Sensory stimulation enhances sensorimotor dynamic functional connectivity in upper limb amputees. Journal of Neural Engineering. 2020;17(3):035002. doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ab882d.
Bracken LJ, Oughton EA. ‘What do you mean?’ The importance of language in developing interdisciplinary research. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers. 2006;31(3):371–382. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-5661.2006.00218.x.
MacLeod M. What makes interdisciplinarity difficult? Some consequences of domain specificity in interdisciplinary practice. Synthese. 2018;195(2):697–720. doi: 10.1007/s11229-016-1236-4.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2020 Manuel Stephen Seet