The Lab

Abstract

This interactive educational resource addresses Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) topics including avoiding research misconduct, mentorship responsibilities, handling of data, responsible authorship, and questionable research practices. Viewers may assume one of four roles to gain perspective on the ethical issues and pressures raised while working in a research laboratory and persuing and scientific career. Kim Park is a fourth-year graduate student who questions the use of her data by another researcher; Hardik Rao is a postdoctoral student who needs to balance work and comptetiveness in an up-and-coming lab with demands of home and personal life; Aaron Hutchins is a principal investigator who falters under the overwhelming pressures he faces as a professor, researcher, and grantwriter; and Beth Ridgely is a research administrator and also serves as the University's Research Integrity Officer (RIO); she must deal with allegations of research misconduct. (NOTE: See also the ORI's 2009 DVD on the Role of the Research Integrity Officer.)