Integrate the integrators! A call for establishing academic careers for integration experts

Addressing global challenges requires inter- and transdisciplinary (ITD) research that integrates diverse perspectives from various disciplines, policy, and practice. Integration is widely recognized as the core challenge of ITD research, yet the current academic system lacks permanent positions for integration experts—individuals who lead and facilitate integration within ITD projects. This article, drawing on a workshop at the ITD 2019 Conference and relevant literature, explores the roles, motivations, and expertise of integration experts, highlighting the need for establishing academic careers for them. The authors argue that a robust system for supporting ITD research must acknowledge and support the crucial role of these integration specialists.

The authors review existing literature on ITD research, Science of Team Science (SciTS), and Science and Technology Studies (STS) to contextualize the role of integration experts. This review establishes the importance of integration in ITD projects and the current lack of formal recognition and support for individuals specializing in this area. The authors use this background to frame their empirical findings from the workshop and propose practical solutions.

The study employed a mixed-methods approach. A workshop at the ITD 2019 Conference, attended by 47 participants and 8 organizers from various disciplines, geographic regions, and academic positions, utilized "think-pair-share" and "world café" methods. Participants discussed four key questions: (1) roles integration experts assume, (2) their motivations, (3) necessary personal qualities and expertise, and (4) career challenges faced. The workshop discussions were recorded and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. These empirical findings were then triangulated with existing literature on ITD research, SciTS, and STS to provide a comprehensive understanding of the integration expert role.

The workshop revealed a broad range of roles assumed by integration experts, including bridge builders, boundary crossers, translators, catalysts, facilitators, contributors, mediators, advisors, and evaluators. Their motivations stem from intrinsic desires to address complex problems, generate new knowledge, and foster societal change. Key personal qualities include openness, curiosity, creativity, sociability, persistence, patience, and the ability to tolerate ambiguity. Expertise encompasses interactional expertise (ability to communicate across disciplines) and referred expertise (experience in one field applied to another). Significant career challenges include the lack of appropriate evaluation criteria, limited career paths within discipline-centered academic structures, and the struggle to balance multiple roles. These challenges often lead to integration experts leaving academia.

The findings highlight a critical gap between the increasing need for ITD integration and the absence of established academic pathways for integration experts. The current system, dominated by disciplinary structures, undervalues their contributions and creates career instability. This lack of support not only hinders ITD research but also contributes to a loss of valuable expertise as individuals leave academia. The authors argue that establishing formal recognition and support for integration experts is vital to advancing ITD research's potential.

The article concludes that integrating integrators is crucial for effectively tackling complex societal problems through ITD research. The authors advocate for the establishment of an international Community of Practice, a thorough study of integration expert career paths, targeted funding for their positions, and collaborative dialogue with institutions and funding agencies to address the existing limitations and create more sustainable careers for these essential professionals.

The study is primarily based on a single workshop, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings. However, the triangulation with existing literature helps to strengthen the conclusions. Future research should investigate integration expert career paths across various disciplines and institutions to further validate and expand upon the study's findings.