Transdisciplinary Research and Education

The team is creating a leadership and administrative structure within the Brown School that advances transdisciplinary teaching and research. This has resulted in the creation of two positions: the Associate Dean for Transdisciplinary Faculty Affairs held by Melissa Jonson-Reid and the Associate Dean for Transdisciplinary Research held by Fred Ssewamala. Both Jonson-Reid and Ssewamala completed an internal scan of TD course participation at the Brown School and met with all faculty about research, teaching, and career development. The committee is working to identify how the Brown School liaises with the university’s agenda.

Building upon the culture of collaboration to encourage and support transdisciplinary agendas in teaching and research, job postings now include language on how the Brown School provides an environment for transdisciplinary research. A workgroup has completed a transdisciplinary definition document. Specific language regarding transdisciplinary and team science is included in the new draft tenure document under review by the Brown School interim co-deans and ultimately to be reviewed by the WashU General Counsel.

Objectives:

1. Complete TD definition, establish process for development of TD Framework, and review Tenure and Promotion to lay foundation for championing university-level processes [note that this first objective lays the internal groundwork for Brown School’s active participation as well as initial engagement in a broader university level process].
2. Identify & work collaboratively toward elimination of barriers to transdisciplinary research and teaching at Wash U, with attention to issues of culture, resources, incentives, and policies [The workgroup envisions this as a fact-finding stage that brings together information about internal processes and external models to support the overall goal].
3. Work collaboratively to identify opportunities and provide space, time, and resources across Wash U to facilitate a transdisciplinary approach (example: faculty fellowship in a different area of the university).

Objectives:

1. Lead collaborative effort across Wash U schools to identify an agenda addressing priority questions/challenges that require transdisciplinary solutions.
2. Expand and redefine a Brown School research office with expertise, capacity and responsibility for managing complex national and global transdisciplinary projects across diverse agencies and funding mechanisms.
3. Lead collaborative efforts across Wash U units to establish & fund infrastructure to develop & connect schools, offices, centers, and individuals.
4. Establish the framework to expand collaborative efforts within the Brown School and across Wash U schools and administration to identify mutually beneficial and pedagogically important cross-program teaching and student participation.
5. Articulate a transdisciplinary agenda to National Councils and other representative groups aligned with all Wash U schools and programs, in an effort to encourage responsiveness that will facilitate the identification of and support for emergent opportunities.

Objectives:

1. Amend the school’s system of recognition, promotion, and merit increase to include transdisciplinary teaching and research (follows initial policy and framework development in Obj 1.1).
2. Create and fund infrastructure to support transdisciplinary teaching and research.

Objectives:

1. Create and fund infrastructure for proactive and strategic translation of research results into best practices.
2. Demonstrate leadership in team science, including engaging community user organizations and stakeholders at all stages of the research process.