At the University of Oklahoma, meaningful research collaborations often begin with a conversation.
The Data Institute for Societal Challenges (DISC) is creating more opportunities for those conversations through its new DISC Mentorship Program, which connects faculty and researchers with experienced mentors to support collaboration, research development, funding opportunities, and professional growth.
One of the program's first mentor-mentee relationships brings together Andrés D. González, associate professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Faculty Fellow with DISC, and affiliate faculty with the Data Science and Analytics Institute (DSAI), and Shuozhi Xu, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.
Their first meeting was a chance to get to know one another and explore areas where their experiences and interests could intersect.
"We chatted about collaborative opportunities with faculty in and outside OU, federal funding agencies, teaching, and life in Norman," Xu said.
The conversation reflects the broader purpose of the DISC Mentorship Program which is creating space for researchers to exchange ideas, share experiences, build connections across disciplines, and explore opportunities that may not emerge through traditional research collaborations.
For mentees, these relationships can provide an opportunity to learn from faculty who have navigated different stages of an academic career. For mentors, the program offers an opportunity to share their experiences while helping strengthen connections across OU's research community.
González's work across the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, DISC, and DSAI provides a strong foundation for this type of interdisciplinary connection. Xu's work in aerospace and mechanical engineering brings another perspective to the relationship, creating opportunities to explore connections between disciplines and research communities.
As the DISC Mentorship Program grows, the goal is to foster relationships that extend beyond a single meeting or research project. Through mentorship, DISC hopes to help researchers build networks, identify new opportunities, strengthen collaborations, and navigate the many dimensions of an academic research career.
For González and Xu, it started with lunch, a conversation, and an opportunity to learn from one another.
And sometimes, those first conversations are where new collaborations begin.
Learn more about the DISC Mentorship Program: https://www.ou.edu/disc/initiatives/mentorship-program
