Aarhus University is doubling the number of advisers on responsible conduct of research at the faculties. Professor Steffen Thiel from the Department of Biomedicine will join Ebba Nexø in the role of maintaining a responsible research culture at Health.

2020.01.08 | Henriette Stevnhøj

Professor Steffen Thiel has been appointed adviser for responsible conduct of research until 2023. Photo: Jann Zeiss Thiele

Professor Steffen Thiel from the Department of Biomedicine has been appointed as Health's second adviser on responsible conduct of research and freedom of research. The appointment is so new for Steffen Thiel that he has hardly had an opportunity to talk to his colleague in the position, Professor Ebba Nexo. Nevertheless, he feels confident about taking on the role from 1 January:

"I'm the sort of person who talks to lots of people and likes to get involved in things. So it was easy to say yes to the task," he says.

The role has been upgraded to two advisers after a revision of AU’s rules for research conduct which assessed that two equal advisers will benefit more from one another’s experience than one adviser and an alternate.

Steffen Thiel does not have any personal experience of cases of research misconduct, but is aware of some of the grey areas. For example authorship.

"A typical example is a junior researcher who feels pressured to include a dubious co-author in a publication. It can be difficult to say no, so what is the right thing to do here? I see myself as a confidant who can suggest a course of action and help resolve the situation," says Steffen Thiel.

He believes that the role of adviser is particularly valid today, where a little misgiving about misconduct can end in public shaming on social media. Worst case is also that it can cost a researcher their career.

"If something goes wrong, it’s laid bare very quickly. We need to be able to handle this when it happens. Because mistakes are a fact of life," says Steffen Thiel.

Over the coming three years, both Ebba Nexø and Steffen Thiel will be available as advisers for other researchers, managers or other employees in connection with research integrity, freedom of research and responsible conduct of research. As a rule, their advice is confidential, but if either of the advisers becomes aware of particularly serious incidences of breach of responsible conduct of research, they are obliged to report it to the Committee for Responsible Conduct of research, also known as the Research Practice Committee.

Steffen Thiel also draws attention to the updated AU website on responsible conduct of research. If you feel unsure about research conduct, you can find help about what to do here: https://medarbejdere.au.dk/administration/forskning-talent/ansvarligforskningspraksis/

Facts about advisers on the responsible conduct of research and freedom of research at Health

Professor, DMSc Ebba Nexø (born 1943); Consultant, professor and chair in clinical biochemistry at Aarhus University Hospital and Aarhus University until 2014. She has subsequently been affiliated with the Department of Clinical Medicine as professor with special responsibilities (MSO). She has been a member of the Danish Committees on Scientific Dishonesty (DCSD) under the Ministry of Higher Education and Science, as well as chair of the Danish Medical Research Council, and has also held other honorary offices.

Professor, MSc Steffen Thiel (born 1961) is head of a research group at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University. He has been a member of the Danish Council for Independent Research Medical Sciences and a member of various committees at Aarhus University. In addition to his work in Denmark, he has also spent time working abroad and has experience with the commercialisation of research results. 

Contact

Professor Steffen Thiel
Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine
Mobile: (+45) 2927 0890
Email: st@biomed.au.dk

Professor, DMSc Ebba Nexø
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine
Mobile: (+45) 4046 5954
Email: enexo@clin.au.dk