Collaborative Work and Cohort Experience
Brainstorm ideas activity during our training session in Logan, Utah (Sept 2025).
Lessons from my experience in the Natural Resource Workforce Development Fellowship
As a PhD candidate in Ecology at the University of California, Davis, I have immersed myself in diverse natural resource management issues. My research focuses on understanding the different values involved in water management frameworks, how utilitarian views are reflected in our current policy frameworks, and how we can create a framework that would allow for different perspectives on water management. For that, I look into different water frameworks around the world, focusing my research in California, Chile, and Mexico.
At the start of this fellowship, I was unfamiliar with the Utah water framework and the current condition of the Great Salt Lake (GSL); this journey would take me not only to a new water-related challenge but also underscore the importance of collaboration and communication among colleagues. Being part of the 2025-26 cohort of the Natural Resources Workforce Development (NRWD) fellowship has taught me invaluable skills that go beyond what any course can offer. This hands-on learning experience has reinforced my understanding of team dynamics and the practice of adaptability and trust. Throughout this year, I learned how important it is to effectively communicate our ideas when working collaboratively.
Visit to San Lorenzo Creek in Oaxaca, Mexico, to learn about community-led restoration practices to increase water infiltration during the wet season (March 2025).
Our team’s journey started with an initial in-person training session in Logan, Utah, where each member shared their expertise and vision for our work. We were unclear about our research focus, but we discussed and came up with some ground rules to set our collaborative endeavors; effective and honest communication among us will guide our work! Throughout our bi-weekly meetings, I was impressed by how quickly we moved from individual contributors into a cohesive research team. We embraced the uncertainty of our research topic and thrived in brainstorming ideas. We collectively explored the implications of functional flow and its potential benefits for the GSL. A Functional Flows approach focuses on the seasonal component of the natural flow regime that sustains distinct ecological function. In the GSL, would be a flow that could support and maintain water quality and wildlife.
After several meetings, we realized that our aim was not just to generate academic knowledge but also to create research to would support water legislation in Utah. Knowing that, we began developing a research plan. As I reflect on my experiences, I had never put myself in a position where research began with a broad topic and no predefined roles for team members. This openness encourages us to play all roles and take on all tasks in a research plan, learn about ourselves (individually and as part of a team), and be flexible about our research goals.
Now, when I think about how we integrate diverse perspectives into research, it becomes clear to me that a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, similar to what we have experienced in the NRWD fellowship, is ideal. Environmental issues require integrating multiple backgrounds and perspectives into the problem-solving and decision-making process to lead to more robust, nuanced, and lasting solutions. Therefore, I encourage everyone to reflect on how collaborative work has shaped your research.
This post was written by Paulina Rojas, a 2025-26 NRWD Fellow from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis).