Research is seldom done by one person; it’s usually a joint venture, requiring a staff of people with various skills and levels of experience. In addition, there are researchers from other departments or other institutions with whom you might want to collaborate and consultants on whom you might need to draw for particular types of expertise. For the most part, however, your initial focus will be on building a staff of colleagues with whom you will interact most directly. For more information, see Staffing the Research Project. At the outset, however, here are some key questions to consider:
Based on the research involved, what are your staffing needs in terms of required skills, qualities, and strengths of personnel? What kinds and how many positions do you need to fill in order to effectively meet your project’s tasks and goals (and stay within your budget)? Have you developed written job descriptions for the positions you need to fill? Does your department already have the staffing resources you need, or do you need to hire additional people? If so, do you know where and how to publicize job openings in your lab? Are you familiar with University hiring policies and procedures? In interviewing prospective candidates, do you consider how their strengths and personalities will contribute to the overall workings of the research team? Do you have an orientation and training program in place for new staffers that explains their duties and responsibilities, establishes a clear chain of command, and lays out well-defined expectations and targeted goals? Have you established an ongoing system for maintaining good communication with the research staff in terms of progress or problems? Do you know what help with any of these issues is available from CTSI and how to access that help?
