Good Scientific Practice
As an international research university, the University of Tübingen expects its researchers to adhere to established standards of good scientific practice. Violations of these standards can not only destroy the reputation of the responsible researcher, but can also seriously damage the reputation of our university.
In order to ensure good scientific practice and to handle scientific misconduct, the University of Tübingen has implemented guidelines and established processes and support services.
Guidelines for Good Scientific Practice
The rules for good research practice, to which all members of the University of Tübingen are committed, are anchored in the University of Tübingen Guidelines for Ensuring Good Scientific Practice.
The Tübingen Guidelines are based on the Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice of the German Research Foundation (DFG). As a practically oriented, subject-specific commentary on the Code, the DFG provides an online portal.
Ombudspersons for Good Scientific Practice
The University of Tübingen has appointed a number of ombudspersons for good scientific practice to whom their members and employees can turn with questions relating to good scientific practice and cases of suspected misconduct. As neutral and qualified contact persons, they contribute to solution-oriented conflict mediation where possible. Ombudspersons maintain confidentiality in dealing with queries and, if necessary, notify the responsible body at their institution in the event of suspected cases of misconduct. Apart from the ombudspersons for good scientific practice, the University has also appointed ombudspersons for issues arising during the doctoral phase. They can, for example, be contacted in case of conflict between doctoral candidate and supervisor.
Ombudspersons for Good Scientific Practice (in accordance with § 4 VerfO)
MEDICINE
Regular Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Krägeloh-Mann
ingeborg.kraegeloh-mann@uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Marius Ueffing
marius.ueffing@uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy Ombudspersons
apl. Prof. Dr. Sandra Beer-Hammer
sandra.beer-hammer@uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Tobias Renner
tobias.renner@med.uni-tuebingen.de
SCIENCE
Regular Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Caterina Gawrilow, Department of Psychology
caterina.gawrilow@uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Andreas Kappler, Department of Geoscience
andreas.kappler@uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Dominique J. Lunter, Department of Pharmacy and Biochemistry
dominique.lunter@uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Werner Vogelsang, Department of Physics
werner.vogelsang@uni-tuebingen.de
HUMANITIES
Regular Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Martina Thiele, Department of Philosophy and Media
martina.thiele@uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Markus Pudelko, Department of Economics
markus.pudelko@uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Pia Schober, Department of Scoial Sciences
pia.schober@uni-tuebingen.de
Prof. Dr. Achim Mittag, Department of Asian and Oriental Studies
achim.mittag@uni-tuebingen.de
Period in office: March 17, 2023 to March 16, 2026
Information and Support Services
Courses
The university offers courses on good scientific practice for researchers of different career stages.
Support
For advice on matters relating to good scientific practice, the University has established various contact points.
Animal testing
Animal testing requires particular sensitivity from researchers.
Medical research projects involving humans
The Ethics Commission at the Faculty of Medicine and the University Hospital in Tübingen is responsible for medical research projects involving humans.
Further Documents on Good Scientific Practice
The German Rectors' Conference (HRK), the German Research Foundation, the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat), and the National Academy of Sciences and Humanities Leopoldina have expressed their views on good scientific practice and scientific misconduct in several position papers.
Position papers on good scientific practice
- Scientific Freedom and Scientific Responsibility. Recommendations for Handling Security-Relevant Research (2014). Joint position paper by the German Research Foundation and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
- Position paper on freedom of opinion at the University of Tübingen (November 2020)
- Gute wissenschaftliche Praxis an deutschen Hochschulen. Empfehlung der 14. HRK-Mitgliederversammlung (Mai 2013)
- WR - Recommendations on Academic Integrity Position Paper (April 2015)
- DFG - Proposals for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice
Academic Misconduct
Please contact one of the ombudspersons for good scientific practice if you are a member of the university and suspect or wish to report scientific misconduct or violations of good scientific practice. The ombudspersons are sworn to absolute secrecy and are independent in the performance of their duties. The ombudsperson in question will examine the significance of this suspicion of academic misconduct in detail with regard to the plausibility of these accusations. Justified cases will be passed on to the Commission for the Investigation of Misconduct in Science.
For details see the University of Tübingen's rules of procedure for dealing with academic misconduct (2018 version).
Members of the Commission for the Investigation of Misconduct in Science in accordance with Section 7 VerfO (Rules of Procedure)
MEDICINE
Regular member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Julia Skokowa, Internal Medicine
julia.skokowa@med.uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Olga Garaschuk, Institute of Physiology
olga.garaschuk@uni-tuebingen.de
SCIENCE
Regular member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Martin Oettel, Department of Physics
martin.oettel@ifap.uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Felix Wichmann, Department of Computer Science
felix.wichmann@uni-tuebingen.de
HUMANITIES
Regular member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Bernd Hecker, Faculty of Law
bernd.hecker@uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Jens-Hinrich Binder, Faculty of Law
j.binder@uni-tuebingen.de
ACADEMIC EMPLOYEES
Regular member of the commission
Dr. Cordula Brand, International Center for Ethics in the Sciences and Humanities (IZEW)
cordula.brand@uni-tuebingen.de
Deputy member of the commission
Dr. Meike Kammler, Dean's office, Faculty of Science
meike.kammler@uni-tuebingen.de
FROM OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY
Regular member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Florian Fricke, University of Hohenheim
w.florian.fricke@uni-hohenheim.de
Deputy member of the commission
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Falk, University of Mannheim
ulrich.falk@uni-mannheim.de
Period in office: March 17, 2023 to March 16, 2026
Related Topics
Research Data Management
Research Data Management is an important aspect of good scientific practice.
Open Science
The University regards an adequate dissemination of research to the public as an integral part of good scientific practice.