Innovative People

Kenneth Mitton

Biomedical Research Scientist (Biochemistry PhD), University Professor, Primary Investigator. Biochemistry, analytical biochemistry/chemistry, cell and molecular biology, control of gene expression, epigenetic regulation. Model systems of ocular and retinal diseases. Integrated computing in biomedical research projects.

While I have a main career focused in eye research in the Eye Research Institute of Oakland University, my natural tendency to use computers, some programming, internet tools, constructing local networks (from the days of Windows 1.0 to now) has brought me to work on IdeaConnection problems with a team that is fundamentally : multidisciplinary. One thing I have experienced firsthand is seeing how a group of people who like to think and collaborate can tackle a problem that no single member has experience with and they can come up with amazing functional solutions. Sometimes, new people to an area just see a different angle without an "experienced set of blinkers" on. At the same time, they work well with experience brains in the field of concern who have a sense of how new strategies might perform from their breadth of knowledge.

The other aspect of team work that is crucial is coordination. A team facilitator is the magic key to keep everyone coordinated. They can be non-scientist for a team attacking a physical chemistry problem, with the role of helping everyone work efficiently and move forward, step by step until the deadline is reached.

As a scientist, I have always worked with other people across state and country boundaries, collaborating on publications and results, so many scientists already understand that this team approach is possible. The only major difference is that the project may not involve any physical "benchtime" other than that spent using modeling software on the "computer bench".

Thus, I am willing to put my brain time onto any project; certainly to at least consider it. After all, I still love to learn new things myself, and my experience in work and life so far tells me that you often benefit from a bit of knowledge sometime in the future.