[Skip to Content]

Education: College of Graduate Studies

Required Course

GS 637 Responsible Conduct of Scientific Research (Research Ethics)

Biomedical scientific research is a complex undertaking, with a theoretical framework for how scientific progress should be made, professional norms about acceptable scientific conduct, and an ever-expanding array of ethical challenges, sometimes thrust upon us by scientific and biomedical advances. The complexity and rapid advance of biomedical research, as well as instances of deception, conflicts of interest, and inappropriate care of animals or humans involved in research, evidence that merely having good intentions is not always sufficient.

This one semester course will utilize a case-based format, short didactic presentations, and student in-class presentations to help graduate students:

  • improve their moral reasoning skills in the context of scientific research;
  • deepen their understanding of the professional norms of science; and
  • gain an understanding of the regulatory framework and ethical principles governing biomedical research.

Course topics include an introduction to scientific and moral reasoning, academic honesty and plagiarism, conflicts of interest, collaborative research, mentoring, and data ownership/management and intellectual property, whistle-blowing, and the regulatory frameworks governing use of humans and animals in research.

Contact Rachel Fabi at fabir@upstate.edu

Top