. "Appendix G Focus Groups on Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research." Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2004.
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Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research
Effective programs that have a large impact on the potential impact of a beginning researcher to hire people and obtain computers and other necessary equipment need not be high-cost. For example, the NIH FIRST (R29) award provides a research support for newly independent, biomedical and behavioral science investigators to initiate their own research and demonstrate the merit of their own research ideas.2
Focus more on middle-level people who have tenure, because they are able to take the risks entailed in IDR.
Focus funding on fellows and on travel grants that provide them with the necessary independence.
Create independent IDR institutions where people can come together on equal footing.
Institutional Mechanisms
Focus attention on institutional roles—the leadership of an organization is critical.
Create universitywide interdisciplinary research positions.
Other issues:
When disciplines come together, they need to do so on an equal basis
Treat postdoctoral fellows as the glue between researchers who should be joint advisers.
