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Research leaders sit at a round table and talk during a networking event

Speed Networking

Research leaders smile during a speed networking event to encourage collaborations among faculty

Speed Networking events bring together departments, schools, and centers to build new connections. The faculty who participate in the event have the opportunity to apply for research seed funding to support their new collaborations.

Are you interested in having your school participate in a Speed Networking event? Send an email to sheila.rajguru@rutgers.edu and indicate if there are schools/departments (within your school or in a different school) with which you would be interested in strategically building relationships.

 

Upcoming Speed Networking

  • Join us for an exciting speed networking event at The Rutgers Club. Researchers with interests and expertise related to data science are invited to connect with colleagues who are interested in advancing and applying fair and responsible data science.

    Learn more about the event.

Past Speed Networking Events

  • Attendees talk during a speed networking event at the Rutgers Club

    Research leaders across Rutgers–New Brunswick, RBHS, and the Office for Research met for a speed networking event to foster cross collaborations between the chancellor-led units.

    Attendees were assigned to tables for two speed networking table rotations to ensure each unit made new connections. Taking advantage of technology, two questions were asked to foster discussion during the table rotations. Using a QR code participants accessed the online live discussion board and typed their answers for everyone to view.

    View the PowerPoint (PDF)

    Q1: What are some positive things that your Chancellor-led Unit is doing to foster collaboration?

    • Research Development
      • Pilot funding, seminar series, working on grant applications with PIs creating brainstorming sessions to invite thought leaders from across the CLUs to become part of the working team for the application
    • Leadership Development:
      • Research leadership retreats
      • Mixer event
    • Enhanced Communication
      • Academic Master Plan
      • Monthly meetings
    Three research staff at a networking event for RBHS and new Brunswick faculty

    Q2: What are the barriers/challenges to fostering collaboration among the RU-NB and RBHS CLUs?

    • Budget Model
      • F&A rates
      • Difference in financial models
      • The F&A need to follow the dollars for collaborations to be successful
    • Resources
      • Institutional clarity for dispersed tools and resources, where to go?
      • Inequitable access to shared/open space
    • Research
      • Need more opportunities for “intellectual collisions” among faculty from different schools and CLUs
      • Clinical commitments not allowing time for research without funding
      • Lack of incentives
      • Cultural differences
  • A group of people sitting around a table

    The School of Engineering Speed Networking Event held on September 22, 2022, was attended by 48 faculty participants across eight school departments. 

    View the PowerPoint (PDF)

    At a Glance

    • 48 faculty participants
    • 4 senior leaders/chairs attendees
    • 8 different departments represented
      • Aerospace Engineering
      • Biomedical Engineering
      • Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
      • Civil and Environmental Engineering
      • Electrical and Computer Engineering
      • Industrial and Systems Engineering
      • Materials Science
      • Engineering Mechanical Engineering

    Quotes

    • "I really enjoyed this event and was able to meet others to collaborate in the future."
    • "I was surprised at how professional the event was. I loved the Faculty Booklet to reference it after the event as well."
    • "When will we have another one of these? I loved it!"
    • "Why have we waited so long to do this!"
    • "Great event! Thank you so much for hosting it!"

    Suggestions for Successful Partnerships

    • Funding PhD students
    • Mechanism for matching funds
    • More inter-department seminars for young faculty
    • More funding mechanisms
    • Reduce or speed up administrative approval levels for grant setup
    • More searchable and updated faculty expertise database
    • Formal mechanism for faculty to share resources
    • Hire more experimentalists
    • More faculty interaction sources
    • Sponsor interdisciplinary seminars
    • Provide mini-grants for masters-level graduate student