Investigation into suspected scientific misconduct has been concluded

ETH Zurich considers it a duty to investigate all alleged violations of scientific integrity, and to act decisively when necessary. In response to allegations made against a professor last year, the university established a committee of experts.

The investigative committee reached the following conclusions in its report:

• The committee found some cases of failure to reference, as well as a violation of the authorship guidelines described in Art. 14 of the research integrity guidelines (RSETHZ 414en).
• In one case, serious scientific misconduct was identified in the supervision of junior scientists. The professor had presented a departing postdoctoral researcher with an authorship waiver agreement for publications.
• The committee concluded that the scientific misconduct did not have a direct effect on the quality or validity of the research results. Neither did they see evidence of intentional plagiarism.
• Allegations of data manipulation were not corroborated.

The investigative committee ultimately reached the conclusion that the facts indicate a violation of ETH Zurich’s Guidelines for Research Integrity. This was due to the professor showing an interpretation of authorship, intellectual property rights and supervision that is incompatible with the principles and regulations set out in these guidelines.

Based on the report, the Executive Board considers the misconduct to be serious. Nevertheless, the Executive Board has decided to continue its collaboration with the professor. The professor’s insight into the situation was crucial to this decision. He has realised that he has made errors and did not handle difficult situations and conflicts in an ideal manner. He is willing to work on his personal failings and overcome them, which he has demonstrated through active participation in leadership coaching over the last several months and the improvements that this process has generated.

The President has therefore come to the conclusion that the conditions are now in place to address the shortcomings in scientific research and in the supervision of junior scientists, and in some cases this has already been achieved. The Executive Board has ordered a range of measures in order to support this process. The leadership coaching that has been taking place since 2019 will continue, and will be supplemented by a scientific coach to assist with his group’s publications. The current size of the research group will be limited, and existing doctoral students will be assigned a second supervisor or co-examiner with immediate effect, in accordance with the revised Ordinance on Doctoral Studies. With regard to the retirement phase, it has been agreed that he will continue his scientific research with postdocs and will not recruit any new doctoral students. In addition, the professor has been instructed to make the necessary corrections to the publications as detailed in the investigative committee’s report. The professor also received a formal warning from the President.

Investigation participants were told personally about the decision and measures at an information event. “Upholding the values of good scientific practice is essential for all researchers at ETH Zurich,” ETH President Joël Mesot emphasises. “But if people understand where they went wrong, and they are willing and able to take steps to make it right again – they deserve a second chance. A learning organisation like ours has to keep this as our guiding principle.”