Research and Innovation Services

Research Integrity Champions

Professor Andrew Roe
Professor of Molecular Microbiology (Bacteriology)
Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation 

Research Integrity Advisers

Prof Roman Biek
Research Director
School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine

Prof Gareth Inman
Research Director
School of Cancer Sciences

Prof Colin Berry
Research Director 
School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health

Dr Kathleen Boyd
Research Director
School of Health and Wellbeing 

Prof Rick Maizels
Research Director
School of Infection & Immunity 

Prof Bridget Johnston
Research Director
School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing

Dr Ian Salt
Senior Lecturer
School of Molecular Biosciences

Prof Lawrence Barsalou
Professor
School of Psychology and Neuroscience

Research Integrity Champions

Prof Richard Hartley 
Professor of Chemical Biology

Research Integrity Advisers

Dr Cristina Persano
Head of School
School of Geographical and Earth Sciences

Prof Sonja Franke-Arnold
Professor (Physics and Astronomy)
School of Physics and Astronomy

Prof Justin Hargreaves
Head of School
School of Chemistry

Prof Simon Gay
Head of School
School of Computing Science

Prof Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez
Head of School
School of Engineering

Prof Ian Strachan
Head of School
School of Mathematics & Statistics

Prof Fin Stuart
Director of SUERC
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre

Dr Douglas Morrison
Reader SUERC
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre

Research Integrity Champions

Prof Nigel Leask
Regius Chair of English Language and Literature

Research Integrity Advisers

Dr Dahlia Porter
Senior Lecturer (English Literature)
School of Critical Studies

Dr Erin Jessee
LKAS Research Fellow (History)
School of Humanities 

Dr Christa Roodt
Lecturer in Art Law and Business
School of Culture and Creative Arts

Dr Elwira Grossman
Lecturer in Polish and Comparative Literature
School of Modern Languages and Cultures

Research Integrity Champion

Prof Denis Fischbacher-Smith
Research Chair in Risk and Resilience

Research Integrity Advisers

Prof Nick Watson
Chair of Disability Studies (Sociology)
Institute of Health and Wellbeing 

Prof Nicki Hedge
Professor of People, Place & Social Change
School of Education 

Prof George Pavlakos
Professor of Law and Philosophy
School of Law 

Dr John Xiaognag Shi
Senior Lecturer in Hydrology
School of Interdisciplinary Studies

Prof Sabina Siebert
Professor of Management
Adam Smith Business School

Dr Michelle McGachie
Tutor
Urban Studies

The core role of the Research Integrity Champion/Adviser is to provide guidance and support in relation to good research practice. Champions/Advisers also ensure that advice is available to researchers (staff and students) who are unsure about a research conduct issue and may be considering whether to make an allegation of misconduct.  

This document is intended to clarify the actions and role of the Champion/Adviser when queries, concerns or allegations are communicated to them. This document supplements section 4.3.1 of the Code of Policy and Procedures for Investigating Allegations of Misconduct in Research (hereafter referred to as the “Code”). 

Fundamentally, this document aims to reinforce the principle that concerns regarding research misconduct should be jointly managed between the College and Research and Innovation Services (R&I Services).  

Flowchart: Research Misconduct Investigation Procedure - Schools/Institutes

The clarifications below are motivated by the need to: 

• Avoid duplication of effort where College-based Champions/Advisers have gone to some length to understand a query, concern or allegation, only for that investigation necessarily needing to be repeated more formally by R&I Services. 
• Reduce the workload of College-based Champions/Advisers. 
• Obtain better oversight and support of early-stage queries. It is vital to the integrity of research that early-stage queries are supported and, wherever possible, resolved. 
• Emphasise that Central Services are there to support resolution in the first instance, and not to investigate or impose sanctions. 
• Reduce any institutional risk of College-based Champions/Advisers acting (or not acting) with the terms of the Code and within the required timescales. This risk is heightened when cases are more involved, i.e. where they might lead to the need to contact funders or publishers. 
• Remove potential or perceived conflicts of interest between Champions/Advisers and respondents. 

At any time, Research Integrity Champions and Advisers may seek advice or support by contacting the Named Person via R&I Services (research-integrity@glasgow.ac.uk) 

Queries 

Staff and students might have questions or requests for clarification about an aspect of research practice; for example, publication policy, data ownership, ethical approval, or integrity training. These queries may be resolved locally by the Champion/Adviser, without notifying R&I Services. 

The advisory role of Champions/Advisers in addressing queries is distinct from their role in addressing concerns about research conduct raised by a student or staff member, or indeed when approached by a student or staff member who is thinking of making an allegation of misconduct. In these cases, the Champion/Adviser acts as an initial contact only.   

What to do if a concern or allegation arises: 

The Champion/Adviser should record the case as described to them by the complainant, in as much detail as possible without the need to review documentation or conduct interviews.  

The details of the case should then be communicated confidentially (without disclosing the identities of the parties involved) as follows: 

• If an Adviser receives a concern or an allegation of misconduct, they should contact their College Integrity Champion, who will then contact the Named Person via research-integrity@glasgow.ac.uk.  
• If the Adviser perceives a conflict of interest with the College Champion, the Adviser should contact the Named Person directly via research-integrity@glasgow.ac.uk.   
• Where an allegation is received from a source external to the University, it should be forwarded immediately to the Named Person. 

The role of the Champion/Adviser is therefore not to conduct or coordinate investigations into allegations of misconduct, nor is it to decide whether a case should be dismissed or investigated; that is the role of the Named Person and the Research Integrity Council.  

The Named Person and their support team will follow our Code and in so doing select the most appropriate option available to them, ranging from dismissal of the concern, informal resolution, through to initiating a screening process, which might progress to a full investigation. After considering the details of the case, the Named Person might ask the College Champion or local Adviser to see if a resolution to the concern or allegation can be reached informally e.g. via a discussion with the complainant and/or respondent*. The Named Person and their support team will also mediate all communications with external parties such as funders, publishers or external collaborators. 

Please keep in mind that confidentiality is vital throughout all cases of possible misconduct: the names of the individuals involved (whether that be the complainant, the respondent, or other parties) should not be disclosed. The name of the complainant should not be disclosed to the respondent unless written consent has been given by the complainant to do so. 

Record-keeping 

In all cases, whether a query, a concern or an allegation, the Champion/Adviser is required to note case details in their logbook. Here is an Example Logbook with examples on how to complete these.