Research Integrity fosters responsibility in the conduct of university research and scholarship, in compliance with federal, state and university regulations and guidelines. The focus of the Research Integrity Officer is to be a resource for campus faculty, students and staff in their research-related activities through training and technical assistance. The Associate Vice Chancellor for Research is the campus Research Integrity Officer and reports to the Vice Chancellor for Research.
University Rules and Regulations specify: "Any person who receives allegations of research misconduct must promptly forward them, in writing, to the dean or director of the academic unit in which the accused individual is located." (420.010 C1)
If you have a question related to research integrity, contact the Research Integrity Officer.
Core areas
Data acquisition, Management, Sharing and Ownership
Responsible practices for acquiring and maintaining research data. Proper methods for record keeping and electronic data collection and storage in scientific research. Includes defining what constitutes data; keeping data notebooks or electronic files; data privacy and confidentiality; data selection, retention, sharing, ownership and analysis; data as legal documents and intellectual property, including copyright laws.
Publication Practices and Responsible Authorship
The purpose and importance of scientific publication, and the responsibilities of the authors. Includes topics such as collaborative work and assigning appropriate credit, acknowledgments, appropriate citations, repetitive publications, fragmentary publication, corrections and retractions, application of discipline-based conventions for deciding upon authors and author responsibilities. To support responsible authorship and publication practices at MU, the Office of Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development encourages researchers’ use of iThenticate software to prescreen grant proposals and scholarly papers for possible plagiarism or misuse of text.
Mentor/Trainee Relationships
In collaboration with the Graduate School, the mutual responsibilities of mentors and trainees in all levels of research. Includes the role of a mentor, responsibilities of a mentor and a trainee, conflicts between mentor and trainee, collaboration and competition, selection of a mentor and misusing the mentor/trainee relationship.
For Graduate Students & Post-Docs: Responsible Conduct of Research Program
Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Research and Scholarship
Responsible collaborations and issues that may arise from such endeavors. Includes topics such as setting ground rules early in the collaboration, avoiding authorship disputes, effective communication across disciplines and the sharing of materials and information with internal and external collaborators.
Protections of Human Participants in Research
The Human Subjects Research Protections Program (HRPP) reviews all human subject research applications for research involving investigators or occurring at the University of Missouri–Columbia to ensure they meet the appropriate regulatory and institutional requirements. Projects are then reviewed by the MU Institutional Review Board (IRB) to assure that the rights and welfare of human research volunteers are adequately protected in research being conducted in conjunction with the University of Missouri and its affiliates. The principles which govern the IRB in assuring that the rights and welfare of subjects are protected are those principles embodied in the regulations and the Federal Wide Assurance. The Board also reviews proposed research for compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. To accomplish this purpose, a group deliberation process is used to review and approve protocols and related materials.
Research Involving Non-human Animals
Issues pertinent to the responsible conduct of research involving non-human animals. Includes topics such as definition of research, ethical principles for conducting research with non-human animals, pertinent Federal regulations and guidelines, Animal Care and Use Committee and treatment/care.
Research Misconduct
The meaning of research misconduct and the regulations, policies and guidelines that govern research misconduct in PHS-funded institutions. Includes topics such as fabrication, falsification and plagiarism; error vs. intentional misconduct; institutional misconduct policies; identifying misconduct; procedures for reporting misconduct; protection of whistleblowers; and outcomes of investigations, including institutional and federal actions.
Conflict of Interest and Commitment
The definition and types of research conflicts of interest and commitment by faculty, staff, students and by the institution, and how to handle these research-related issues. Includes topics such as conflicts associated with collaborators, publication, financial conflicts, effort, obligations to other constituencies and other types of conflicts.
Get additional information on the conflict of interest policy and procedures at MU. If you need assistance with a disclosure or have questions about a potential conflict of interest, please contact Betty Jo Wilson (wilsonbe@missouri.edu), Conflict of Interest Committee Administrator, at 573-882-3841.
Research Safety
In collaboration with Environmental Health and Safety, safety issues related to research, including radiation safety, safe laboratory procedures, biological safety and toxic waste handling.