'Collaboration and Team Science' presentation set for June 19

The West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI) will host a guest seminar with L. Michelle Bennett, Ph.D., chief science officer at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. She will present "Collaboration and Team Science" at 9:30 a.m. Friday, June 19, in room 2940A, Health Sciences Center North.

Dr. Bennett joined the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in February 2015 as the chief science officer to the director. In her role she supports the crosscutting mission of the institute to advance biomedical technologies in support of basic, translational and clinical applications that ultimately advance research efforts and improve medical care.

Prior to this role she served as the deputy scientific director for the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, where she was responsible for scientific programmatic oversight, strategic planning and implementing strategies to support the research mission. Bennett also served as a deputy director at the Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, where she developed and implemented projects and activities that cut across a broad range of scientific areas in order to accelerate the center’s research progress in the areas of cancer and HIV research.
 
Bennett has extensive practical experience in promoting collaboration and team-based approaches by bringing together research scientists with diverse backgrounds and expertise to solve complex scientific problems. She works with individuals, teams and institutions to devise strategies to catalyze and reward collaborative cultures. She co-led an initiative to understand the fundamental characteristics that contribute to successful scientific team functioning, resulting in the development of a workbook, "Collaboration and Team Science: A Field Guide," that serves as a primer for investigators who are building or participating on a research team.
 
Bennett has received numerous awards for her work at the NIH, including the NIH Director’s Award; NIH Plain Language Awards; HHS Secretary’s Award and numerous NIH Merit Awards for strategic planning, outstanding scientific vision, scientific communications and exceptional mentoring.