“Research4Life allowed me to approach research with greater depth and confidence” – A story of career growth and impact

Published: Wednesday 16th October 2024
Category: Blog

While Research4Life is best known for supporting users at institutions such as universities, professional schools and teaching hospitals, it also plays a key role in helping graduates like Oyedeji Christiana Pelumi make smooth transitions into their professional careers. Now a research analyst at Qualiquant Services Limited, Christiana describes Research4Life as a turning point in her journey. During her graduate studies, having access to Research4Life’s resources gave her the confidence and tools she needed to build essential skills. For Christiana, this became the foundation for the expertise she brings to her professional life today.

Discovering Research4Life

Christiana first discovered Research4Life during her graduate studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, where access to high-quality, up-to-date research was essential for her thesis. Back then, she struggled due to her library’s limited resources which meant that the high costs of journal subscriptions made it difficult to access key content for her research. “Before my institution started using Research4Life, accessing current and comprehensive research literature was challenging,” she recalls. After her university registered with Research4Life, everything changed, she had access to a vast collection of scholarly articles, previously out of reach. “The platform’s comprehensive database allowed me to delve into diverse perspectives and methodologies, enriching my research and strengthening the credibility of my findings,” she says. This access, combined with Research4Life’s massive open online courses (MOOCs) on topics like Discovering Scholarly Literature, were vital during her academic work, enabling her to develop a more rigorous thesis and explore research questions more deeply.

Research4Life impact on early career success

As Christiana transitioned from student to researcher, Research4Life continued to play a key role in her development. A moment that stands out in Christiana’s career was when she needed access to a crucial study for a grant proposal. This study was critical, providing the evidence that strengthened her research and made her submission much stronger. “The ability to cite and integrate this high-quality research significantly bolstered the credibility and impact of my work,” she explains. That grant allowed Christiana to lead an important project studying demographic changes in slum areas. Using resources from Research4Life, she and her team conducted detailed research that revealed insights others had missed. This was a major career milestone for Christiana, showcasing the real-world impact of her work.

A foundation built with Research4Life

Today, even though Christiana no longer relies on Research4Life in her daily work at Qualiquant Services, its influence continues to resonate in her career. The foundation of knowledge, research methodologies, and collaborative skills she built during her time using Research4Life resources and attending MOOC modules has positioned her for success in her current role. Reflecting on her journey, Christiana explains: “Research4Life allowed me to approach research with greater depth and confidence”. Christiana remains committed to the evidence-based approach she honed with the help of Research4Life, and continues to make a tangible impact in her field.