By Laurel White
A new research project co-led by a School of Education faculty member and a Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) affiliate aims to identify promising ways to support ethical and collaborative research teams in higher education.
The three-year project, funded by the National Science Foundation, will examine the impact of an evidence-based training program that aims to improve understanding of responsible research practices, cultivate tools to develop a holistic perspective on those practices, and improve the dynamics and culture of research environments. It will focus on research teams within the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Dessie Lee Clark, an affiliate with Wisconsin’s Equity and Inclusion Laboratory (Wei LAB), housed within WCER, will lead the project. Clark says she was inspired to design the study based on her past research on improving workplace climate in STEM fields.
“I’m interested in bringing a more comprehensive lens to how we understand and improve lab-based collaborations and initiatives,” she says.
Aireale J. Rodgers, an assistant professor in the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, is a co-principal investigator on the project. Rodgers says she hopes the effort will lead to a broader recognition of the need for a holistic approach to responsible research training.
“Research teams that value collaboration, mentorship, and adhere to high ethical standards are best positioned to realize their full potential,” Rodgers says. “Training researchers on how to achieve those goals will benefit not only higher education environments but also the communities the projects hope to serve.”
Rodgers is also currently leading projects on equity-minded change in geosciences education and faculty cluster hiring.
Erika Marin-Spiotta, a professor in the UW–Madison Department of Geography, is also a co-principal investigator on the project. Rodgers and Marin-Spiotta are also steering committee members and co-principal investigators on the Wisconsin Sloan Center for Systemic Change (WiSC²) project, an initiative aimed at removing barriers and improving equity in STEM doctoral programs across the country.