UNC SRP annual retreat fosters team building and collaboration
UNC SRP held their annual retreat this May as a way to connect, collaborate, and be forward-thinking in their research. Attendees included current members of each project team and core, prospective project leaders, several trainees, undergraduate researchers, and external advisors from other Superfund centers and the state of North Carolina.
The retreat was interactive and fostered collaboration and integration across the center. Trainee Audrey Bousquet helped plan parts of the retreat and valued the opportunity to participate as a trainee. She reflected that the experience made her think more critically about her own research.
“It opened my eyes to the different opportunities that are available to me to collaborate with other labs and share research techniques,” remarked Bousquet.
Each project or core lead gave a short flash talk highlighting a one-slide graphical abstract about their work. This high-level overview of their work and research led to individuals brainstorming ways that their own work could collaborate with the presenting project or core. UNC associate professor Dr. Marc Serre attended with an interest in the future of the UNC SRP. He remarked that he was fascinated with how well the projects complement each other in improving our understanding of inorganic arsenic exposure impacts type II diabetes and are aiming at finding solutions ranging from diet to membrane filtration.
“It’s a unique and strong research team and the retreat was very successful is bringing that group together,” he said.
UNC Retreat Attendees
In addition to sharing among UNC Center leaders, members of the external advisory committee (EAC) also attended, including Dr. Kelly Pennell, director of the University of Kentucky Superfund Research Center (UK SRC). The EAC provided insights and ideas to UNC SRP leaders on topics ranging from research questions and methodologies to ways to create better community for our trainees.
“I am hopeful that by sharing expertise, data and knowledge, UKSRC and UNC SRP will accomplish more and achieve new levels of research excellence,” noted Dr. Pennell.
Overall, attendees expressed their appreciation of Director Fry’s leadership and the strengths of the UNC SRP team. Dr. Pennell summed it up, saying, “UNC SRP, led by Dr. Fry, is an inspiring and committed group of researchers who strive to not only make contributions to improve public health in local communities, but also make important contributions within the greater environmental health science community.”
By: Chase Bergeson, UNC SRP Research Translation Associate
