Common Interests Without Common Expertise: Reflections on Early-career Experiences in Cross-Disciplinary Research.

Area of Science:

• Integrative and Comparative Biology
• Interdisciplinary Studies

Background:

• Cross-disciplinary research leverages diverse expertise to address complex challenges, yielding synergistic outcomes.
• Increasing scientific specialization creates barriers for students and early-career researchers (ECRs) pursuing interdisciplinary work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine perceived and experienced challenges faced by students and ECRs in interdisciplinary research.
• To propose strategies for fostering more inclusive and supportive research environments for cross-disciplinary endeavors.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of discussions and shared experiences from a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded workshop.
• Focus group discussions involving seasoned interdisciplinary scientists and students at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) Annual Meeting.

Main Results:

• Identified a range of student concerns regarding careers in interdisciplinary science.
• Highlighted institutional and lab management-level barriers hindering cross-disciplinary training and participation.

Conclusions:

• Dismantling identified barriers is crucial for promoting inclusive and collaborative problem-solving.
• Creating welcoming environments will support scientists of all experience levels in interdisciplinary research.