Research Integrity & Good Research Practice

Trust in our science rests on how the research is done. The School of Biology is committed to the highest standards of integrity across every stage of a research career, and to a culture in which good practice is supported, questions are welcomed, and concerns can be raised safely. This page sets out what that means in biology and where to find guidance, training and support.

University research integrity policies

Who this page is for: academic and research staff, postdocs and early-career researchers, technicians and research students. If you are a taught student looking for guidance on assessments, referencing and plagiarism, see Academic Integrity & Good Academic Practice.

Research students sit across both - good academic practice covers your thesis, research integrity covers how you conduct the work.

The principles we work to

Honesty

In proposing, conducting and reporting research, and in representing methods and findings.
Rigour

Sound methods, careful analysis, and adherence to agreed protocols and professional standards.
Transparency

Open communication of methods, data and interests, and clear reporting of results.
Care & respect

For participants, animals, the environment, colleagues, and the research record.
Accountability

For the integrity of your own work and for fostering a healthy research culture.

Good practice topics

Good research conduct guidance

Ethics & approvals

Research involving human participants, animals, their samples or data needs ethical approval before it begins via school ethics committee and University's processes.

Managing research data

Keep clear, contemporaneous records; store and back up data securely; plan for retention and sharing. Good data management supports reproducible, open and verifiable science.

Authorship & credit

Agree authorship and contribution early and fairly, using frameworks like CRediT and ICMJE. Avoid gift and ghost authorship; COPE guidance helps resolve disputes.

Publication & peer review

Report honestly and completely; avoid duplicate or fragmented publication; correct the record where needed. Conduct peer review fairly and confidentially.

Declaring interests

Identify, declare and manage conflicts of interest, and be transparent about funding. Openness protects the independence and credibility of your research.

Research misconduct

Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism and the recycling of text or outputs are taken seriously. Such cases are rare, but they are investigated fairly and confidentially.

Training, induction & support

Integrity & Ethics Training

The University's online modules (TRIE) cover the core areas of good research conduct. All researchers complete the first module; research students complete the full set as part of matriculation.

Induction & supervision

New staff, research students, PhD supervisors and Heads of School receive dedicated research integrity content at induction — so expectations are clear from the very start of your time here.

Ask early

Unsure about authorship, an approval, a data question or a possible conflict? Talk it through with your Director of Research or the University research integrity team. Early questions are always welcome.

Raising a question or concern

Early, informal conversations resolve most questions. Where a concern needs to go further, it is handled fairly and confidentially under University procedure.

Report and Support

Biology Research Concerns

Our commitment

The School of Biology takes research integrity seriously and aligns its practice with the University and the wider sector.

SoB Integrity commitment

Contacts

Director of Research

School research integrity lead

Leads good research practice across the School and is the first point of contact for staff and researchers on research integrity, ethics and governance.

Research Integrity

University Team, contact · 01334 46 2550

Central advice on policy, training and ethics for everyone conducting research under the auspices of the University.

Raising a concern

Questions, concerns & allegations

How to ask a question, raise a concern or make an allegation — with protection for anyone acting in good faith under the University's whistleblowing code.