For folks in adjacent disciplines who think that their skills or perspectives may be useful within the context of #COVID19 epidemiology and modeling — we welcome you! But *please* collaborate with existing researchers in these fields instead of striking out on your own first. 1/2

I‘ve personally launched several modeling collaborations with clinicians, mathematicians, etc. during the #pandemic, and I think my co-authors can attest to the fact that having an actual computational epidemiologist on board has strengthened the work. Experience matters. 2/2

PS: My language in the first tweet of this thread is very intentional, namely — “instead of striking out on your own FIRST”. FIRST, work with collaborators in the disciplines that you’re interested (but inexperienced) in; THEN, strike out on your own *once you have experience*.