I have a science background in geology. I used this background knowledge in my Broughton Bear series. I researched plants, animals, and especially plants for wild plants' recipes. I did first hand research, actually trying the recipes. Research includes many things, like walking on the beach, picking up a dead bird maybe dissecting it.
Research is fun.
The weakness in research is knowing when and where to cut it off, when I have enough. Always reading other people's science, not doing your own. It's important to know when to stop. In a way I wouldn't think of it so systematically. If you're looking for voice, that's very internal.