Additional services
Ensuring good scientific practice
At Paracelsus Medical Private University (PMU), a main goal is to continuously develop, strengthen and expand excellence in research. Achieving this requires a commitment to integrity, transparency, and strict adherence to scientific, legal and ethical standards. Researchers are granted significant scientific freedom in conducting their work. To ensure that research at PMU maintains a high level of quality, it is essential to uphold the principles of good scientific practice, with any violations addressed appropriately.
Guidelines for ensuring good scientific practice
In 2009, PMU implemented university-wide guidelines for ensuring good scientific practice (only in German available at the moment). These guidelines serve as a framework for conducting thorougly rigorous scientific work and outlines procedures for handling potential violations of good scientific practice.
In 2012, PMU became the first Austrian private university to join the Austrian Agency for Research Integrity (Österreichischen Agentur für wissenschaftliche Integrität, ÖAWI). PMU implemented the ÖAWI guidelines for safeguarding good scientific practice, which operate alongside its own internal guidelines.
Two ombudspersons for good scientific practice are available to address any questions related to this topic. They can be contacted confidentially confidentially and are generally exempt from any obligation to report suspected violations. Only in the case of a serious and particularly justified case of suspicion do they pass on the processing to the competent bodies:
a.o. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Monika Killer-Oberpfalzer, MA
Institute for Neurointervention
m.killer[at]salk.at
Prof. Dr. Falk Schrödl
Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology
falk.schroedl[at]pmu.ac.at
With the revision of the guideline in autumn 2024, a permanent commission was set up to investigate indications and allegations of scientific misconduct at PMU. This commission is formed of four members of the Research and Innovation Board and can be contacted at any time via the general e-mail address of the Research Management (FM) via forschung.service[at]pmu.ac.at. The FM supports the commission in its work and forwards any allegations to it.
Since March 2021, the ÖAWI has set up a highly secure anonymous communications channel for direct contact through the BKMS Whistleblowing System. You can find more information here.
The current guide on integrity and ethics in science, issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Research, can be accessed here.
The PMU's current affiliation guidelines can be accessed here (only in German available at the moment).