Degree Revoked by University Due to Research Misconduct

A University of Colorado researcher lost his Ph.D. and his ability to receive federal funding for a three-year period due to misconduct in the lab ("Disgraced CU Scientist Debarred after Falsifying Data," Daily Camera, December 26, 2018). Lab personnel noted in interviews that the research "felt immense pressure from his mentor to produce quality results that could generate future funding for the lab." Based on governmental review of the case, Rajendra Kadam was found to have "engaged in research misconduct by knowingly and intentionally falsifying and/or fabricating data by manipulating peak area data to reduce variability and/or alter statistical significance for twenty-six figures and five tables in his Ph.D. thesis and in nine published papers."

Discussion Questions:

1. Would you risk having your college degree rescinded to alter research data in an experiment if your supervisor encouraged you to "produce quality results?" Why or why not?
2. Can this researcher salvage his reputation after losing his degree due to scientific misconduct? Why or why not?
3. If you were asked to engage in unethical behavior on the job, what would you do?