Ombuds Committee for Research Integrity in Germany
The Ombuds Committee for Research Integrity in Germany is a committee appointed by the association OWID e.V.. It assists all scientists and reseachers in Germany when it comes to questions and conflicts related to good research practice (GRP) and scientific integrity. The Ombuds Committee is supported in its deliberations and conflict mediation by an office that is located in Berlin.
The deliberations of the Ombuds Committee are based on the 19 guidelines published in the Code of Conduct “Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice” ( see the DFG, 2019). Everyone is free to contact either the Ombuds Committee for Research Integrity or a local ombudsperson at a research institution.
The Ombuds Committee and its supporting office treat all enquiries neutrally, fairly and in strict confidence.
Tasks
Advising
The Ombuds Committee provides confidential advice on matters of research integrity and in specific cases of conflict (including by telephone through the administrative office).
Mediation
Where conflicts related to good research practice occur, the Ombuds Committee assists through solution-orientated conflict mediation, following the rules of GRP.
Events
The Ombuds Committee and its Berlin office organise events on good research practice, and regularly give lectures on their work (enquiries can be submitted at any time).
Networks
The Ombuds Committee as well as the members of its office network at national and international level with experts in the sphere of scientific integrity. Based on its experience in individual cases, it makes an active contribution towards refining and updating the recommendations on GRP.
The Committee
The members of the Ombuds Committee are appointed by the general assembly of OWID e.V. The Committee operates on a voluntary basis. All enquiries are deliberated on jointly, and all assessments are reached jointly. It acts independently when giving advice and in its mediation. The members of the OWID association are not involved in the ombuds procedure, nor are they informed of the content of such proceedings.
The term of office of the members of the Ombuds Committee is four years; they can be reappointed for further terms.
The current spokesperson of the Ombuds Committee is Professor Dr. Eric Steinhauer.
The Office
The office is the first point of contact for questions on research integrity. It initially advises enquirers by telephone if required. As the Ombuds Committee, the staff of the ombuds office also treat all enquiries in strict confidence.
If enquiries are submitted to the office in writing, the office verifies that the documents are complete and forwards them to the members of the Committee. The office may first ask questions in order to clarify the facts put forward or may ask for supporting documents.
Malte Fischer, M.A.
Michaele Kahlert, M.A.
Sophia May, M.A.
Sarah Rauchfuß, M.A.
Arite Lange
Lea Melle, B.A.
Amrai Enzenberger
Discussion Hubs to Foster Research Integrity
The discussion hubs are a research project developing discussion papers, recommendations, and other publications on trends and current challenges relating to research integrity with a focus on authorship conflicts, plagiarism, research data and, more recently, artificial intelligence.
Together with ombudspersons and experts from various disciplines and institutions, practicable recommendations are designed to provide researchers and ombudspersons with orientation and information in cases of conflict. In cooperation with the DFG, the discussion hubs also produce contributions for their online portal, the so-called third level of the DFG Code of Conduct. Here you can learn more about the Discussion Hubs Project.
News
Ombudsgremium für die wissenschaftliche Integrität: Neuer Name und Trägerverein für das Gremium
Call for Abstracts: ENRIO Congress on Research Integrity Practice 2025
Stellenausschreibung für eine Assistenz (m/w/d) in der Geschäftsstelle
