Conduct of research

Your research data is a critical part of your contribution to knowledge. It must be:

• retained in durable formats (e.g. transcripts, lab notes, digital recordings)

• stored securely and backed up regularly

• accessible for verification and future research

• managed in line with privacy and confidentiality requirements

While it may not be practical to keep all the primary material (such as ore, artefacts, biological material, or questionnaires), durable records derived from them (such as assays, photographs, digital recordings, test results, transcripts and laboratory and field notes) must be retained and remain accessible.

You will work with your supervisor to develop a Data Management Plan, which is a compulsory part of your Initial Review. Adelaide University provides a dedicated planning tool.

At thesis submission, you’ll need to confirm that all relevant data has been securely stored on University managed storage and/or deposited with your supervisor and ensure that the final locations for storage and any data publication are recorded on an updated version of your Data Management Plan. 

LabArchives is an electronic notebook product provided by the University Library which can be a useful collaboration and data management tool. 

Figshare

You can publish your research data using Figshare, the University’s data and digital object repository. This helps share your work with other researchers and ensures the University maintains a record of your outputs.

It may be more appropriate to publish your data in a discipline-specific repository. If so, you should record the DOI or citation in your Data Management Plan and your Aurora profile. Never publish sensitive data or confidential information in a public repository. Consult with your supervisor or the University Library for more information about making sensitive data discoverable or citable. 

Further information about managing and publishing your research data can be found on the Library’s Research Data Management Guide.

Generative AI tools generate new content such as text or images based on prompts from the user. These tools can support your research, but their use must be transparent and responsible. You must:

• discuss AI use with your supervisor

• keep records of programs or applications used, dates and prompts

• include an AI use statement in your thesis acknowledgements

• acknowledge AI use in presentations and publications.

You must not:

• generate thesis content using AI (unless quoted and cited)

• translate large portions of text using AI

• upload sensitive, copyrighted or confidential information into AI tools

• upload unprotected intellectual property into AI tools.

Use must comply with the University’s Academic Integrity and Research Integrity policies.

Before starting any research involving human participants, animals, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or regulated biological materials, you must:

• complete relevant ethics and keep training records.

• obtain formal approval from the appropriate committee or regulatory body.

Approvals cannot be granted retrospectively. If your Initial Review indicates ethics approval is required but not yet obtained, an ‘Ethics’ milestone will be added to your record. You will need to provide approval documentation before progressing.

Changes to your project that affect ethics or compliance must be discussed with your supervisor and submitted well in advance.

Failure to obtain approval can result in serious consequences, including:

• personal liability (including criminal prosecution, fines or imprisonment)

• loss of accreditation for the University

• loss of funding

• breach of insurance conditions.

Your supervisor will submit applications, but you are responsible for ensuring approvals are in place and reported to the Graduate Research School. The Research Compliance, Ethics and Integrity team provides resources, advice and assistance regarding research integrity, research compliance obligations and research ethics.

Specific ethics areas

Human research

Human research includes any study involving people, their data or tissue. Ethics approval is required from an Adelaide University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) or an approved external HREC. Learn more via the Office of Research Compliance, Ethics and Integrity. 
 
Training in human ethics is a requirement for all students who need the appropriate ethical approval for their work.

Animal ethics

The use of animals for research purposes is regulated by State legislation and must also comply with the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

All use of animals must be approved by an Adelaide University Animal Ethics Committee, irrespective of the location of the student or animal/s, or of the source of funding. When animals are housed at a non-Adelaide University animal facility, approval must be obtained from the organisation responsible for the premises. You must also complete the online Compass Animal Welfare Training and submit your certificate as part of your Initial Review.

Gene technology

If your research involves genetically modified organisms (GMOs), approval is required from the University’s Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and potentially the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator. Compliance with the Gene Technology Act 2000 is mandatory.

Graduate research students should also be aware that if they are working in another organisation’s premises or facilities, there is the requirement to meet both the University and the other organisation’s compliance protocols. If approval is obtained from another organisation’s Institutional Biosafety Committee, you will need to contact the University's IBC to enquire whether this can be accepted by Adelaide University, if dual approval is required or if you require any other advice.

Please refer to the Adelaide University Gene Technology page for enquiries, applications and contact details. 

Biosecurity and quarantine

Importing or exporting biological materials may require permits under the Biosecurity Act 2015. You are responsible for ensuring compliance.

Security sensitive biological agents (SSBAs)

If your research involves agents listed under the National Health Security Act 2007, your Principal Supervisor must contact the Office of Research Compliance, Ethics and Integrity before any handling occurs.

The list of SSBAs is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

Export controls

Certain research may be subject to export control laws. If you are unsure whether your work is affected, contact the Adelaide University Office of Research Security.

Authorship must reflect significant scholarly contributions. Discuss authorship with your supervisors early and revisit as needed. You’ll need to declare authorship agreements during your Initial Review.

If you are the corresponding author submitting to a publisher, you must complete an electronic Authorship Declaration. For theses submitted in publication format, a Statement of Authorship is required for each included publication.

Refer to the University’s Authorship Procedure for guidance.

You are responsible for complying with the Copyright Act when using your own or others’ material. For advice, visit the Library Copyright for Research & Publishing page.

Plagiarism, including self-plagiarism, is treated as research misconduct. All theses must be reviewed using iThenticate prior to submission. You and your Principal Supervisor must confirm the originality of your work.

All graduate researchers must register for an ORCiD, a persistent digital identifier and enter it into their Aurora profile. This helps track publications and supports accurate reporting for research performance and funding.

You can also create a Researcher Profile to showcase your work and increase visibility. Keep your Aurora profile up to date with your bio, qualifications and publications.

For more information, consult the Library’s Metrics and Impact Guide.

Always acknowledge Adelaide University in your research publications. If you are supported by the Research Training Program (RTP) either as a domestic student or with a Research Training Program Scholarship (RTPS), you must include the following statement:

This research was supported by the Commonwealth through an Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship [doi.org/10.82133/C42F-K220]

Your health, safety and wellbeing matter. 

Adelaide University is committed to maintaining safe environments for all students, staff and visitors; and expects supervisors to provide graduate research students with positive, respectful, and proactive supervision in a learning environment that is characterised by physical, psychological, and psychosocial safety. 

Your supervisor is also responsible for ensuring you:

• understand the hazards associated with your research activities

• receive appropriate training in safe working procedures

• are adequately supervised throughout your project.

If you have any concerns, speak with your Principal Supervisor first. You can also contact your Graduate Research Coordinator, Dean of School or the University’s Wellbeing and Safety team for support.

A conflict of interest occurs when personal or private interests, or external commitments could compromise, or appear to compromise, the integrity of your research.

Conflicts can include, but are not limited to:

• funding sources

• peer review responsibilities

• commercialisation of research

• personal or professional relationships.

If you are in a close personal relationship with a staff member, they must not be involved in decisions related to your admission, selection, assessment, supervision or awarding of scholarships or prizes. These relationships must be disclosed to the Dean of School or relevant area manager.

You may engage others to assist with your research, paid or unpaid, provided:

• the assistance is approved by your School from the outset

• the tasks are limited to routine activities (e.g. data collection, preparation of materials)

• the contribution is acknowledged in your thesis and any resulting publications

This ensures transparency and maintains the integrity of your research outputs.