At Lehigh University, our international partnerships are vital to expanding human knowledge and solving the world’s most urgent problems. These collaborations bring a necessary diversity of thought that sustains our academic and research excellence.
The Foundation of Our Success The strength of these partnerships depends on the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and trust. Lehigh remains committed to complying with all federal, state, and University requirements governing global research and scholarship.
Protecting Your Research Research security offices nationwide are reporting an uptick in unsolicited collaboration requests from international entities. To protect your professional integrity and the credibility of your work, please keep the following in mind:
- Ask Questions: If you are unexpectedly approached by an external party seeking to collaborate, the Office of Research Integrity can develop a risk assessment to provide you with background that may help you determine whether or not you wish to pursue a collaboration.
- Transparency is Key: Disclosing institutional and individual relationships prevents any appearance of inappropriate influence.
- Where to Disclose: Use the COI module in the LIRA system to disclose your external professional interests. Ensure you follow the specific approval processes within your college and the Office of Research Integrity.
Case-Specific Requirements: Some collaborations may require additional disclosures tailored to the specific nature of the partnership. Faculty are encouraged to reach out to us before committing to a partnership so that we can advise.
We Are Here to Help If you have questions about a potential collaboration or need guidance on disclosure requirements, please reach out to the Office of Research Integrity.