What is your university doing to celebrate Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week? If you said “Striving to do better” you would not be the only institution to make that its goal. November 1-7 is a week set aside for reviewing your university’s rules and regulations. While difficult to stay in strict compliance since laws that govern institutions are constantly in flux, … [Read more...] about Corporate Compliance and Ethics Week
What Went Wrong
Science Integrity
Some European institutions, according to a recently published Nature article, have started to rely on science integrity inspectors to review papers prior to submission for errors in manuscripts.1 So far, this has not caught on in the United States. The question is, should it? One of the institutes highlighted in the Nature article was the Fritz Lipman Institute (FLI) in … [Read more...] about Science Integrity
“Zoom Fatigue” Is Real
There’s an uncomfortable intimacy of maintaining sustained eye contact with just one person for a long period of time. Or trying to concentrate on five different people in five different rooms all at once. These are just two of the scenarios that may be causing you something being referred to as Zoom Fatigue. People are not just using Zoom for work during the day, but … [Read more...] about “Zoom Fatigue” Is Real
COVID-19 PPE Usage According to the CDC
COVID-19 PPE usage Although PPE usage is second nature to PIs, it’s worth reiterating some important points. Especially now that we’ve found ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we’ll take a look at some common PPE questions. We will refer to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) as our source for answering these important questions. Per the CDC’s … [Read more...] about COVID-19 PPE Usage According to the CDC
Proper Face Mask Usage
Face mask usage Last week, Houston Judge Lina Hidalgo announced an order that would mandate Houstonians wear face masks for the next 30 days or else face a fine of up to $1,000. While this order drew its share of criticism, it sparked interest in the effectiveness of masks and face mask usage in general. Here, we will outline some important guidelines for optimizing face … [Read more...] about Proper Face Mask Usage
Citation Farms and Circles of Self-citation
Self-citation is a sensitive topic in some circles. Especially circles that are known disdainfully as “citation farms,” which consist of authors who routinely and massively self-cite or cite each other in order to boost the impact of their publications. While these “citation farms,” also known as “citation cartels,” are thought to be the hallmark of bad science, most … [Read more...] about Citation Farms and Circles of Self-citation
Research Recruitment in the Age of Social Media
What if you were scrolling through your social media feed and an advertisement for a hair loss treatment kept popping up. Now say you were bald. So, being interested in this new hair loss treatment, you made an appointment at the location described in the ad. When you got there, you were given the choice to pay a large amount for the hair loss treatment. You were also recruited … [Read more...] about Research Recruitment in the Age of Social Media
Growing Pains: Scalable Compliance
Scalable Compliance Reliance The idea of scalable compliance is that an organization or department maintain efficiency as it grows in size. It is the ability to adjust to an increase in workload by adding resources, like more employees, to the system. Imagine you have a beet patch on a small farm. You’re a regular Dwight Schrute. You have to inspect each beet you pick. … [Read more...] about Growing Pains: Scalable Compliance
Just-in-Case-Mentality in Inventory Management
Minimalism in Inventory Management The concept of minimalism has recently exploded in popular culture. YouTube gurus and Marie Kondo, star of the Netflix original series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,” alike, have urged us all to adopt minimalist habits. There are some things you can learn from the concept when it comes to inventory management. In an attempt to live … [Read more...] about Just-in-Case-Mentality in Inventory Management
Student Drivers of Research: The Benefit of Launching a Student IRB Program
Do you remember the feeling you had the first time sitting at the wheel of a car? Were you overcome by the feeling of excitement, anticipation, fear, or perhaps a combination of them all? For many, obtaining a driver’s license is a rite of passage; a symbol that you are equipped with both the knowledge and skill of how to safely operate a motor vehicle. This achievement, … [Read more...] about Student Drivers of Research: The Benefit of Launching a Student IRB Program
Little White Lies
To comply is to obey, or conform to instruction or official requirements. In a perfect world, research non-compliance wouldn’t occur and following the rules would be a behavioral norm. But the reality is, to err is human. … [Read more...] about Little White Lies