Three Ways to Find Research Resources—Faster

Duke is a large institution, brimming with opportunities and resources to advance the success of students, faculty, and staff. This holds particularly true in the research realm, where free tools, equipment, consultations, and other services are available for scholars in a variety of disciplines. Finding these myriad resources has been a challenge for those engaged in research… until recently.

Duke’s launch of myRESEARCHsuite can empower you as a graduate student researcher. Whether you're seeking research materials, connecting with scholars, or simply navigating the numerous opportunities on campus, this tool is designed to streamline your experience and enhance your academic journey.

MyRESEARCHpath: your self-service guide

Navigating the landscape of academic research can be akin to embarking on a labyrinthine journey, with each stage of the research lifecycle presenting its unique challenges and opportunities. Enter myRESEARCHpath, Duke’s self-service tool designed to serve as your companion throughout the research process, from the inception of an idea to the triumphant write-up of your project results.

At the heart of myRESEARCHpath lies a revolutionary approach: organizing resources, consultations, and training opportunities according to the distinct stages of the research lifecycle. Imagine having a virtual roadmap tailored to your specific needs, ensuring that you're equipped with the right tools and insights to move your research forward. Whether you're conceptualizing your idea, planning a data management strategy, or writing up proposal for funding, myRESEARCHpath tees up relevant resources and services.

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For example, in stage 1 (Generate idea), you can “discover and access data” that already exist and find out the process for obtaining it.  In stage 3 (Develop and submit proposals), you can find templates and examples as you “write and refine the proposal” for funding. One of the most useful for grad students is the 3-year NSF Graduate Research Fellowships Program.  You can find plenty of other resources that can inch your research forward by using the search function, too.

MyRESEARCHnavigators: your full-service guides

Sometimes self-service only gets you so far.  Or maybe you like talking through your research project with people.  This is where the myRESEARCHnavigators team comes into play as your expert companions.  Seasoned professionals with diverse research and scientific backgrounds, these adept

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navigators provide tailored consultations for graduate students across a spectrum of disciplines at Duke University. Whether you're seeking specific resources at Duke or trying to figure out the path forward with a research process, myRESEARCHnavigators are ready to offer personalized help to support your work. You can contact them at myresearchnavigators@duke.edu to set up a consultation.

Need immediate assistance or have a burning question? Fear not, as myRESEARCHnavigators also operate a hotline, providing a direct link to real-time support, with questions often answered the same day. The navigators have completed more than 2000 consultations over the years and are happy to extend their services to graduate students.

MyRESEARCHHOME: The research hub

As we conclude our exploration of myRESEARCHsuite, we land at the research hub—myRESEARCHhome. A secure portal requiring authentication, myRESEARCHhome seamlessly integrates with your identity to customize your experience. This centralized hub is a space where students can find both myRESEARCHpath and the expertise of myRESEARCHnavigators. The features that graduate students will find most useful are tools to help you find funding or potential faculty mentors. myRESEARCHhome features multiple widgets, each with a specific purpose. You can find research collaborators, see forthcoming funding opportunities, and access help, all from one dashboard.

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The myRESEARCHnavigators are skilled at helping researchers and scholars get the most out of all three tools within myRESEARCHsuite.  Contact them for an individual or group walkthrough to start your research journey on a guided path.

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Authors

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Rebecca Brouwer

Director, Duke Office of Research Initiatives

Rebecca Brouwer provides strategic and operational leadership of a variety of research initiatives and engagement activities for Duke researchers. The focus of the office is campus-wide, with an emphasis on ensuring coordination and synergy of efforts between various offices, programs, tools, and initiatives.

 

 

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Sunita Patil

Associate Director of Research Operations, DORI

Sunita Patil joined the myRESEARCHnavigators team in January 2017 and began leading the team in 2020.  She has worked in various capacities during the 15 years of her service in the field of Clinical Research. As a navigator, she helps Duke faculty, residents, fellows, and students to find resolutions to any questions related to clinical research, connect the investigators to the resources at Duke and facilitate research collaborations.