How would I use Research Pathfinder?

I first started using freelancers during the COVID pandemic. I had important projects that needed to move forward, but my team didn’t have the capacity—and they were already overwhelmed and burned out. I couldn’t justify adding more to their plates.

That’s when I remembered a piece of advice from a mentor. After I’d hired my first research coordinator, she told me, “Think about every task you do—does it need to be done by you?” That mindset helped me delegate more effectively, and it stuck with me.

I started thinking about small tasks that didn’t need my direct involvement—and might even be done better by someone else. I posted a few small projects, got some quotes, and tried it out. It worked! Little by little, I started clearing my plate.

Later, when my program manager went on maternity leave, I took it further: I posted more research-specific tasks—like writing study protocols and drafting grant sections. It took effort to find the right people, but I did. And those projects got done. Some of those freelancers became a part of my virtual team.

That experience is what brings me here today. The research landscape is evolving, and we need flexible, collaborative solutions. When we work together—across roles, disciplines, and institutions—we can build something bigger than ourselves and get more of the important work done efficiently. Additionally, we can expand our teams to include skills that we wouldn't have thought about in the past (i.e., graphic designers, website builders, etc).