Session Overview

The CSST 2025 Summer Institute features six core workshop sessions designed to support your development as a sociotechnical researcher. Each session combines expert guidance, hands-on activities, and peer learning.

View detailed session materials →

Session 1: Creative Research Introductions

Thursday, May 29, 1:00-3:00 PM

Learn to effectively communicate your research across disciplinary boundaries. This session will help you develop clear, compelling ways to describe your work to diverse audiences.

Session 2: Navigating Interdisciplinarity

Thursday, May 29, 3:30-5:30 PM

Explore the challenges and opportunities of interdisciplinary research through three rotating stations:

Station 1: Publishing across academic boundaries

Facilitators: Joel Chan, Oliver Haimson

  • Analyze interdisciplinary papers to understand terminology, citations, and methods
  • Practice responding to cross-disciplinary reviewer comments
  • Learn strategies for positioning your work

Resources

Station 2: Managing complex collaborations

Facilitators: Nazanin Andalibi, Elizabeth Watkins

  • Engage in role-play scenarios based on real collaboration challenges
  • Apply research-based best practices for team science
  • Develop conflict resolution strategies

Resources

Station 3: Communicating Your Interdisciplinary Identity

Facilitators: Katie Pine, Matt Germonprez

  • Practice audience analysis and adaptive communication
  • Develop micro-pitches for different disciplinary contexts
  • Build skills in “bridge-before-build” approaches

Resources

Session 3: Impact Pathways Workshop

Friday, May 30, 9:30 AM-12:00 PM

Navigate the interface between research and real-world impact through two parallel tracks:

Station 1: Funding Landscape Navigation

Facilitators: Dan Cosley (NSF, virtual), Josh Introne, Rosta Farzan, Katie Pine, and possibly Joel Chan

  • Current NSF environment and policy changes (with Dan Cosley)
  • Alternative funding sources: foundations, industry, federal agencies
  • Hands-on proposal development workshop

Note: Teams should create a copy of the Proposal Development Worksheet in the same folder; mentors can look at proposals and comment as they develop.

Resources

Station 2: Impact Beyond Academia

Facilitators: Matt Germonprez, Oliver Haimson, Elizabeth Watkins

  • Explore diverse pathways for research impact
  • Strategic decision-making for impact planning
  • Develop personalized impact strategies

Resources

Session 4: Career Journeys

Saturday, May 31, 11:30 AM-1:00 PM

Presenters: Joel Chan, Elizabeth Watkins, Josh Introne, Nazanin Andalibi, Oliver Haimson

Five mentors present “journey maps” of their career trajectories, highlighting:

  • Key decision points and unexpected turns
  • Successes and failures
  • Lessons learned
  • Advice for emerging scholars

Followed by structured Q&A and small group discussions.

Session 5: Crafting Your Scholarly Identity

Saturday, May 31, 2:00-4:30 PM

Facilitators: All hands workshop

Develop a coherent yet adaptable scholarly identity through:

  • Identity foundation work in mentor-led small groups
  • Performance lab with progressive pitch practice
  • Integration strategies for authenticity and adaptation

This session builds on pre-work using the Five Dimensions Framework: narrative, artifacts, performance, engagement, and values/positioning.

View detailed session materials →

Session 6: Continuing the Conversation

Sunday, June 1, 9:00-10:30 AM

Facilitators: All

Our closing session focuses on:

  • Synthesizing key insights from the week
  • Planning next steps for your research and career
  • Building lasting connections within the CSST community
  • Resources for continued growth

Mentoring Sessions

In addition to workshops, you’ll participate in four mentoring sessions with your assigned mentor group:

  1. Challenges and Aspirations (Thursday morning)
  2. Research meets World (Friday afternoon)
  3. Navigating Careers (Saturday morning)

See the Participants page for mentor group assignments.