Research Ethics

Basic principles

Of all the qualities required in science, honesty is foremost. Scientific integrity is not only dictated by ethics, it also contributes to EPFL’s reputation as an institution. EPFL therefore attaches great importance to its staff and faculty members implementing best practice in their research. Any misconduct in this area is severely sanctioned.

Research integrity implies that:

• all persons involved in EPFL research carefully archive their data (see chapter on “Research Data Management”). They must be able to prove the veracity of their results and share them with their peers for at least ten years following publication
• no research data or result may be fabricated, altered, selected or presented in a misleading manner;
• no one may appropriate the creation or intellectual property of others or use these inappropriately. The authors and appropriate references should be stated in all scientific papers. Plagiarism and fraud in any form, whether in teaching or research, will not be tolerated at EPFL and have serious consequences for offenders;
• the list of authors of a scientific paper must include all the persons – and only these – who have made an essential contribution to the subject of the communication. Requests for the inclusion of authors of convenience or requests motivated by a management consideration are not permitted;
• experiments (clinical or non-clinical) involving human beings, animals, or the collection of data relating to specific human individuals, and research with military or potentially violent applications, are regulated. Such experiments must be approved before being initiated (see chapters on “Research Involving Human Beings” and “Animal Experimentation”);
• research project managers actively steer and supervise their research team and ensure that it observes the above principles;
• research supervisors must display exemplary conduct in terms of integrity and be aware of relevant directives and best practice.

Responsabilities 

All persons involved in EPFL research are responsible for their own conduct and compliance with directives and best practice in terms of integrity. However, as part of their leadership duties, project and research group leaders, and especially professors, bear the final responsibility.

Legal basis

• LEX 1.8.1 “Directive concerning whistleblowing at EPFL”
• LEX 3.3.2 “Directive concerning research integrity and good scientific practice at EPFL”
• LEX 3.3.3 “Ordinance concerning the procedure to follow in cases of suspected scientific misconduct”

Further informations 

• Information about research ethics
• Information about plagiarism
• Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences: “Code of conduct for scientific integrity”
• European Science Foundation and ALLEA (All European Academies) “The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity” 

Advice for day-to-day business

It is recommended to decide on authorship before starting to draw up a manuscript based on the contributions from the entire team.

To be classified as an author, the person involved in the research activity must have made an essential contribution to the design, completion, interpretation or drawing up of the research work and must have approved the final version of the manuscript (LEX 3.3.2).

Other persons who have contributed to the study, but only partially fulfil the above criteria, must be recognised in the acknowledgements, but are not designated as authors.

It is recommended that anyone involved in scientific activity at EPFL complete the online course “Scientific Integrity.” This course covers the ethical and regulatory foundations of scientific integrity and good research practices.

For questions relating to best scientific practice or to report a possible breach thereof, all members of the institution may contact, in confidence, the Head of Ethics Affairs in the Research Office or the Ombudsman appointed by EPFL (see “Contact” and the chapter on “Help & Support : Scientific Misconduct”).