Community of practice

As an early career researcher is it not uncommon to feel isolated and unsure of where to go or who to ask for help. Being part of a community of practice can provide you with much needed support. A community of practice is “a group of people that share knowledge, learn together and create common practices” (Dermott, 1999).

There are many examples of communities of practice in research: Centers, Institutes, Center Grants, Program Project Grants, SPORE Grants Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSAs).

Building relationships with other early career researchers can also offer you a support network, and a way of identifying new opportunities and potential collaborators. In fact, there are lots of benefits of having a community of like-minded individuals around you – just take a look a the illustration below for some of these.

If you start building your network early you can maximize the benefits of a community right from the start of your research journey. We have offered you some ways to connect with others at Mount Sinai through our Facebook group, and some hints and tips on how to start making connections in the section on networking.