1. Navigating Graduate School and Beyond:
Sow Well Now To Reap Big Later
Teams
Dr. Sundar Christopher

2. Teams Pick your committee members
Think of your committee members as part of your team
Take time to put together your team
Become a team player
Dr. Sundar Christopher

3. Committee members Pick CMs who will challenge you
Pick CMs who are willing and able to put in the work
Follow university rules about selection of CMs
Choose a representative for a potential employer to be on your committee
Ask your advisor for advice on committee selection
Dr. Sundar Christopher

4. Meet the expectations of your CMs
Work closely with your advisor
Contact each CM at periodic intervals with updates and progress reports
Meet with each CM separately
Ask for feedback and follow up with
Set a target date for your defense
Dr. Sundar Christopher

5. Prepare for defense
Set up a committee meeting 3-6 months before defense
Go over a mock defense
Highlight your work and your plans for the final stages
Listen to suggestions and take notes
Work out any difficulties before the actual defense
Dr. Sundar Christopher

6. Food for thought Describe your ideal committee member
List situations that prevent you from making periodic contact with your CM. How can you circumvent these situations?
How do you handle a CM who is suddenly “too hard” on you and your research?
If you were a CM, how would you like the student to interact with you?
Dr. Sundar Christopher

7. Benefits of strong team dynamics
Sharing of ideas
Quality research
Positive interaction with others
Good work ethics
Dr. Sundar Christopher

8. Problems with poor team dynamics
Poor work ethics
Backbiting
Hoarding information
Suspicion of other team members
Dr. Sundar Christopher

9. Become a team player Share resources and information
Cooperate with others in both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work
Collaborate with others and offer co-authorship
Be accountable and diligent
Convey your plans for another scientist’s data
Dr. Sundar Christopher

10. Deciding co-authorship
Each person on co-authorship must contribute in some way
In some disciplines, give precedence on the co-author list based on level of input
Also acceptable to list first author and list co-authors in alphabetical order
Convey your plans for data or tools obtained from other scientists.
Dr. Sundar Christopher

11. Why offer co-authorship?
Offer to a scientist if using their data or tools
They know the most about that particular data set and the quality
You will be able to ask all the relevant questions regarding the data set
They can provide a section detailing their data
Some will involve themselves rigorously. Others will simply make sure their data is used properly.
Dr. Sundar Christopher

12. Final thoughts about teamwork
Don’t be a loner. Work with others.
Diversify your research portfolio
Connect to others in your field
Keep your focus and integrity
Follow through with any promises you make to co-authors or scientists who give you data.
Dr. Sundar Christopher