Three questions with… Kathleen!
Our lab is growing! In our Three Questions series, we’re profiling each of our members and the amazing work they’re doing.
This week’s post features Kathleen Gregory, a postdoctoral researcher exploring data citation practices—and the newest member of the ScholCommLab. In this interview, she shares her biggest questions about how researchers use data and offers one simple tip to help with everything from paper writing to home decorating.
Q#1 What are you working on at the lab?
I am a postdoctoral researcher working (remotely from the Netherlands) on the Meaningful Data Counts project with Stefanie Haustein, Isabella Peters, and Anton Ninkov.
Our project maps out current practices of data sharing, data reuse, and data citation across disciplines. I am especially excited about digging into the ‘why’ behind these practices: Why do researchers cite (or not cite) data? Which ‘data uses’ are not cited? How does this all relate to how researchers cite other things—like academic literature? Which patterns exist across and within disciplinary fields, data types, research topics…? I could go on, but I will stop there.
Q#2 Tell us about a recent paper, presentation, or project you’re proud of.
I am very proud of my doctoral dissertation, which was awarded a cum laude designation that is not often given out in the Netherlands. It is both exciting and a bit strange to have four rewarding, yet exhausting, years of my life packaged neatly into a book.
I am also excited about a book chapter that I am working on with Sally Wyatt, Paul Groth, and Andrea Scharnhorst on interdisciplinarity. The chapter looks at how conflicting ideas about a common concept (in this case, ‘users’ and ‘uses’ of technology) can provide common ground in interdisciplinary research.
Q#3 What’s the best (or worst) piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Can I list two?
Whenever I was trying to decide to go for something (e.g. a new job, trying something new in school), my mom would say: “Does it hurt you or someone else? If not, it is probably an opportunity.” On the whole this has been good advice, but it has also been a bit of a double-edged sword as I sometimes end up with too many “opportunities.”
My second piece of advice comes from Thoreau: “Simplify, simplify, simplify.” This helps to counter the problem of too many opportunities. It is also helpful in writing academic papers and home decorating.
Find out more about Kathleen on her website or follow her on Twitter at @gregory_km.