This article was written by Alida de Flamingh for the GSA Early Career Scientist newsletter as part of the Communication and Outreach Subcommittee.
When students and postdocs leave the safety of their academic advisors’ labs, they may face difficult professional decisions. As early career scientists, one of the challenges that we are likely least prepared for is deciding, within the confines of our own ethical framework, what constitutes “responsible research.” Responsible research and innovation is defined by the European Commission as a research approach that “anticipates and assesses potential implications and societal expectations, with the aim to foster the design of inclusive and sustainable research and innovation.”
As early career scientists, we frequently encounter assessments related to carrying out responsible research. For example, when we review papers for publication: Did the authors use ethically sound research methods, and are the results interpreted responsibly and with consideration of any potential implications? Was the data collected in a responsible way? Am I comfortable having my name listed as co-author together with unfamiliar collaborators, or should I look into the research history of each co-author to ensure they meet my own ethical standards? Developing your own personal guidelines to answer these and other questions can help you avoid ethical wrongs (see below for three actionable steps to becoming a responsible researcher).
No other field in STEM is as plagued by past ethical wrongs as genetics. Consider, for example, the field of eugenics was based on Mendel’s law of inheritance. This turbulent history amplifies the need for us as early career geneticists to be especially cognizant of the ethical choices we make when conducting research—be it in the science we do or the science we review.
How can we work toward becoming responsible researchers? The list below is by no means exhaustive, but here are three things to start off your journey as a responsible researcher:
Make sure the science you do is responsible: Ensure that your research methodology and outcomes meet institutional or organizational approval, such as through an Institutional Review Board (IRB). Also consider that some research projects (e.g., partnerships with indigenous communities) require sovereign tribal approval in addition to institutional approval. Plan to adjust your research approach to be respectful and considerate of the community or group that you are working with.
Make sure the science you promote is responsible: When reviewing papers for publication, make sure that the authors have followed the protocols set out by the journal and by their institution(s) (i.e., If the work involves human subjects, does the paper include IRB approval?). Also consider how the interpretation of the results may affect or impact different communities (e.g., Could the interpretation of the results be harmful to minority groups, or could the findings disproportionately impact certain sexual and/or gender minorities?). When publishing your own research, consider adding actionable items to go with the interpretation of your results and make sure to clearly define the limitations and caveats of your data and research approach.
Make sure the science organizations you support are responsible: Support scientific communities that actively promote an ethical code of conduct (e.g., GENETICS encourages the use of NIH Research Ethics). Avoid supporting organizations that do not prioritize responsible and/or ethical research. If you are in a leadership position (e.g., as part of a postdoctoral association or institutional committee), make sure that your group has a concretely defined constitution that promotes and enforcesresponsible and ethical research.