Many university/academic job applications (mostly post-doctoral) require you to outline your research plans briefly. How safe is it to give away your research plans? Is there an element of risk involved? E.g. other more established peers (who read your applications!) knowing and hence stealing your ideas before you can actually implement them. After all, by definition, they already have a job to pursue that research and you are still looking for one.
2006-12-12 09:24:33 · 2 answers · asked by abcd_xyz 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Good question!
There is actually very little risk involved. You are providing your plans, not your data. You may describe your methods of research, but honestly, if they're so innovative and promising that Professor Unethical felt the need to steal and implement them, they'd be immediately traceable back to you.
Your proposal is submitted, dated, and recognized as your original work, so if anything untoward ever did occur, it would be actionable under any and all judicial standards of ethical conduct and academic honesty.
Heck, I'd almost want Professor Morally Bankrupt to steal my stuff, and try to implement it just so I could make a federal case out of it, and get my brilliance recognized!
Just kidding. Don't worry. You're protected by codes of conduct, and by legal standards of confidentiality. Just ask your university's legal department. They'll tell you the same thing.
2006-12-14 19:08:26 · answer #1 · answered by X 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is very safe. In an application you are outlining what you hope to accomplish. They are looking to see that you have a plan and that it is reasonable based on your skills, their rescources, etc. In general those in academic fields are not looking for new areas to research. Now will they steal your data or even writing to publish...that is an other question and a different answer.
2006-12-12 20:57:48 · answer #2 · answered by Dr_Adventure 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋