Paper Authors

Abstract

NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Session 0575 Session 0575

ISSUES INVOLVED IN CROSS-DISCIPLINE COLLABORATION AND OFF-CAMPUS RESEARCH

Dr. Kathryn A. Svinarich, Dr. Cynthia J. Finelli, and Dr. Sandra L. Doty GMI Engineering & Management Institute

Abstract

Satisfying the research requirements for tenure and promotion at a small, predominantly undergraduate teaching institution can be daunting. This is especially true since the time involved with effective teaching, another key requirement to promotion, typically surpasses a full time commitment. Moreover, the fiscal, facility, and expertise constraints of a small institute limit viable projects, particularly experimental endeavors. To meet the research requirements for promotion, three junior, untenured faculty members (an electrical engineer and two physicists) took the initiative to form a cross-discipline, off-campus collaborative research effort with a senior, tenured physiologist at a mid-sized research university. The junior faculty members contribute their time and technical skills to the project. The physiologist provides mentoring, direction, laboratory space and supplies.

The collaboration involves the waveform analysis of electroretinograms (ERG) in rats. At this early stage of the project, the junior faculty are spending time in the lab learning how to record ERG’s and the biochemistry involved in the visual process. They have also upgraded the ERG recording scheme from a strip chart recorder to a digital oscilloscope with a front-end computer. Their technical skills will be instrumental in later stages of the project.

The collaboration addresses many issues simultaneously. These issues include lack of time, funding, facilities and guidance. We will present details of the formation, difficulties and rewards of this cross-discipline, off-campus collaboration.

Introduction

Meeting promotion and tenure requirements at any institution is a daunting proposition. These requirements typically involve maintaining an active classroom experience while simultaneously being an effective committee member and sustaining a viable research program. These tasks become even more formidable for the novice Ph.D. at his/her first position in a small, undergraduate, primarily teaching institution.

In this paper we present our solution to meet the research requirement for promotion and tenure at our institute: the formation of a cross-discipline, off-campus collaboration. We address

• Citation

• Format
  • APA
  • APA - LaTeX bibitem
  • MLA
  • MLA - LaTeX bibitem
  • Bibtex
  • EndNote - RIS

Doty, S. L., & Svinarich, D. K. A., & Finelli, C. (1997, June), Issues Involved In Cross Discipline Collaboration And Off Campus Research Paper presented at 1997 Annual Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 10.18260/1-2--6658