1. Whom do I contact to report a concern?
  2. What are the responsibilities of researchers?
  3. How is research misconduct defined?
  4. Does the UI have an anti-retaliation policy for whistleblowers? What is the process for processing retaliation complains?
  5. Are there training opportunities available?
  6. Relevant policies, procedures, and links
     

1. Whom do I contact to report a concern?

The University of Iowa Research Integrity Officer is:

Mike Andrews
Office of the Vice President for Research
2660 UCC
michael-andrews@uiowa.edu

University policy also provides that allegations of research misconduct may be made to the Vice President for Research or the Provost. 
 

2. What are the responsibilities of researchers?

Researchers, whether faculty members, staff members, or students, have the responsibility to be unfailingly honest in research; they must refrain from deliberate distortion or misrepresentation; and they must take regular precautions against the common causes of error.

Positive steps to insure an environment that minimizes the possibility of research misconduct include the following: 

(a) Researchers must accept responsibility for the quality of the work reported by themselves and their collaborators; emphasis must be placed upon the quality and significance of research rather than on quantity and visibility; 

(b) Only those authors who have had a genuine role in the research should be included in authorship of papers, and all named authors must accept responsibility for the quality of the work reported; and 

(c) Researchers are encouraged to retain research data and records for a period of at least five years following publication to provide verification of the validity of the reported results.

The complete UI policy on the responsibilities of researchers is available in the UI Operations Manual:

3. How is research misconduct defined?

Research misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification or plagiarism in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results.
 

4. Does the UI have an anti-retaliation policy for whistleblowers? What is the process for retaliation complaints?

Yes. The UI anti-retaliation policy and the procedures for processing complaints are available in Section II- 27.8 of the UI Policy Manual.
 

5. Are training opportunities available?

Review Section 5a: Responsible Conduct of Research Training for more information.
 

6. Relevant policies, procedures, and links

Visit the OVPR’s Research Misconduct website for links to federal and state laws and regulations.