Investigation
The Commission for Research Integrity promotes
compliance with the rules of good research practice
The Commission for Research Integrity
- becomes active on request of member organizations
- advises members in cases of suspected research misconduct with due attention to international developments
- may be called upon by any individual who is affected by research misconduct connected to Austria
How does the Commission work?
Confidential
The Commission for Research Integrity constitutes an independent body of the Austrian Agency for Research Integrity (OeAWI). It deals with cases of (alleged) research misconduct connected to an Austrian institution or to a researcher working in Austria. One of the Commission’s most important principles is confidentiality in protecting both the complainants’ and the accused persons’ identities.
Independent
It is central to the work of the Commission that its independence is preserved as guaranteed in the statutes.
The Commission’s members, who are researchers from different fields of expertise, are non-Austrian citizens to guarantee independence from the Austrian research system. Only the member with expertise in Austrian law may be affiliated with an Austrian research institution; this member does not have any voting rights.
Objective
Unrestricted objectivity is an essential institutional provision to guarantee that allegations of research misconduct can be evaluated in a neutral and fair way.
Inquiry initiated by a complainant
Who can initiate an inquiry?
- Full members of the OeAWI
- Any individual who is affected by research misconduct (connected to Austria)
- digitally via the whistleblowing-system
- short description of facts and specification of the accusation (ca. 2-3 pages)
Determination of Responsibility by the Commission
Factually:
- Suspicion of breaches of the OeAWI Guidelines for Good Scientific Practice (Article 3 and 4)
Geographically:
- • Strong connection to an Austrian institution
- Strong connection to a researcher working in Austria
Possible rejection:
- When the alleged misconduct happened more than ten years before the charge is presented
- If a procedure regarding the alleged misconduct is pending at another affected institution (no parallel proceedings)
Investigation by the Commission
- Obtaining of opinions, statements, and other documents
- If sufficient assessment of the facts is not possible, the Commission may obtain expert opinions and/or hold a hearing with the parties involved
- in justified cases: arbitration procedure with the support of a mediator
When other procedures (e.g. civil, criminal or disciplinary procedures) have been initiated in connection with the case in question, the Commission may decide to suspend the case at any stage of the procedure.
Assessment by the Commission
Final statement containing the following:
- Summary of investigation results
- Assessment of investigation results
- Recommendation of further actions
The Commission’s opinion is to be conveyed to the person or institution affected. It is up to the institution concerned to take further measures and apply sanctions.
Members of the Commission
Former Members of the Commission
Prof. Dr.
Eveline Baumgart-Vogt
From November 2017 to October 2019
At that time working at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Prof. Dr.
Beatrice Beck Schimmer
From September 2014 until December 2020
From September 2020 to December 2020 iterimistic chairperson
During this time active at the Physiological Institute and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, (ZIHP) of the University of Zurich.
Prof. Dr.
Ulrike Beisiegel
From June 2009 to December 2010 Chairwoman
During this time working at the Institute of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology II University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
Prof. Dr.
Andreas Diekmann
From January 2016 to September 2021
During this time active at the Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, ETH Zurich
Prof. Dr.
Pieter C. Emmer
From June 2009 to December 2015
At that time working at the Institute for History, Leiden University
Prof. Dr.
Michael Hagner
From October 2015 until October 2019
During this time active in science research, ETH Zurich
Prof. Dr.
Joachim Heberle
From May 2021 to April 2023
During this time active at the Freie Universität Berlin, Department of Physics
Alexandra Kemmerer
LL.M. eur.
From October 2019 until November 2021
From December 2020 to November 2021 Vice Chairwoman
During this time working at the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law
Prof. Dr.
Paul Kleihues
From June 2009 to June 2012
At that time working at the Department of Pathology, University Hospital Zurich
Prof. Dr.
Daniela N. Männel
From January 2011 until October 2017
During this time active at the Institute for Immunology, University of Regensburg
Prof. Dr.
Susanne Modrow
From October 2019 until September 2025
During this time active at the Institute for Medical Microbiology, University of Regensburg
Prof. i. R. Dr.
Gerd Müller
From January 2019 to August 2020 Chairman
Univ.-Prof. Dr.
Robert Rebhahn
From June 2009 until April 2012
During this time active at the Institute for Labor and Social Law, University of Vienna
Prof. Dr.
Stephan Rixen
From June 2012 until December 2018
From October 2015 to December 2018 Chairman
During this time active at the Faculty of Law and Economics, University of Bayreuth
Prof. Dr.
Kerstin Schneider
From May 2018 until April 2022
During this time active at the Wuppertal Institute for Research in Economics of Education Wuppertal
Prof. Dr.
Elisabeth Staudegger
From May 2018 until October 2020
During this time active at the Faculty of Law, Karl-Franzens-University Graz
Prof. Dr.
Philipp Theisohn
From October 2019 until September 2025
From December 2020 until September 2025 Chair of the Commission
During this time active at the German Seminar, UZH
Prof. Dr.
Gerhard Wegner
From June 2009 until October 2015
During this time active at the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research
Prof. em. Dr.
Peter Weingart
From June 2009 until September 2015
From January 2011 until September 2015 Chair of the Commission
During this time active at the Institute for Institute of Science and Technology Studies at Bielefeld University
Prof. Dr.
Barbara Wollenberg
From June 2012 until October 2014
During this time active at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at University of Lübeck
Rules of
Procedure
In addition to the regulations contained in the statutes, the Rules of Procedure govern all procedural principles and processes of the Commission for Research Integrity. The Rules also provide information that helps to determine issues of responsibility and procedural steps of a given investigation.
