The Juggling Collaborative Statistician: Which Balls to Drop?

• Activity Number: 324 - The Juggling Collaborative Statistician: Which Balls to Drop?
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Tuesday, July 30, 2019 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Consulting
• Author(s): Jungwha Julia Lee* and Alexandra Hanlon* and Mimi Kim* and Julia L Sharp* and Emily Griffith* and Ji-Hyun Lee*
• Companies: Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Colorado State University and North Carolina State University and Northwestern University and University of Florida and University of Pennsylvania
• Keywords: collaboration; balance; business model

Abstract

No two business models of statistical collaboration within an academic environment are the same. The models vary according to a host of factors, including position composition (i.e., methodological, collaborative, teaching), personnel track (i.e., tenure, non-tenure, research, etc.), location (i.e., independent unit, Statistics department, clinical department or school, etc.), focus (i.e., environmental, population health, etc.), student body, funding source, and more. Expectations for success and achieving tenure and/or promotion will also vary according to the model. However, there is a common theme: the collaborative statistician all too often becomes overwhelmed with balancing client needs, administrative tasks, achieving tenure and/or promotion metrics, teaching, and establishing and maintaining an independent statistics agenda. In this panel, collaborative statisticians representing various academic collaboration activities will discuss components of their business model, tasks they focus on to achieve success, tasks they choose not to focus on and why, aspects of their job that they choose to devote time to but probably should not (and why), followed by discussion.