METHODS (Modeling, Experiments, THeory, and Operations for Doctoral Students) is a group for graduate students from all disciplines whose research involves anything reflected in its acronym (and more).

The METHODS group was founded by graduate students at the University of Arkansas in 2019. After a few years in grad school, many of us develop the feeling that we must be totally self-sufficient in research, creating our own solutions to each problem we encounter. Students in every research group seem to have similar feelings, even when struggling with the same research topics. How is it that, despite scientific publishing flourishing like never before in history, new graduate students still struggle with the same tasks and problems? Shouldn’t all this research be making it easier for grad students of all disciplines to master more skills?

The purpose of METHODS is to eliminate impediments to research. There’s a good chance that someone else has struggled with the same research tools or techniques you need. Learning from them could improve the speed and quality of your research. Sometimes, a technique or perspective from a seemingly-unrelated researcher can introduce innovative solutions to an established field. As graduate students, we all have something we could teach, and something else we could learn. METHODS exists to foster the sharing of research skills and experiences, with the goal of evolving students’ technical capabilities.

A campus of effective, efficient, and impactful scientific graduate research students, capable of excelling among research peers globally.

To build upon the experiences, expertise, and practices of fellow research students institutionally, continuously driving forward graduate student research capabilities.

• Offer a regular, informal, and personal setting in which students from diverse disciplines can share and discuss their grad school research and scholastic experiences.
• Foster formal and informal collaborations, research assistance, and creative solution-finding among graduate researchers.
• Eliminate unnecessary duplication of effort by increasing exposure and communication of the tools and techniques of diverse researchers, institutionally.
• Provide a valuable service to graduate student researchers without noticeably or unfruitfully adding to their given academic responsibilities.

Executive Alumni