With greater campus interest in entrepreneurship and corporate partnerships, university personnel may have financial interests in research outcomes. UNL's Conflict of Interest in Research Program has worked with a forum of faculty to create a new Interest Reporting Form to make it easier for faculty, staff and students to report any outside interests related to their research. The new form will be available via NUGrant August 17th. This new form will allow faculty, staff and students to report more complete information and reduce the need for the 'back and forth' communication associated with this process in the past. Interest reporting is completed annually and the IRF is available to report changes at any time throughout the year.
Disclosure of Interest FAQ
The public looks to university research as an independent, unbiased source of information. Because some university researchers also conduct research for private entities or have private interests in entities that contribute to research, the federal government, State of Nebraska, and UNL require disclosure of these interests.UNL requires you to disclose interests that are in any way related to your research.
Disclosure is required of all university employees, including part-time and full-time employees, visiting faculty/employees, post-doctoral researchers, and graduate students who are involved in research.
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Federal regulations require institutions that receive federal funding to establish policies and guidelines for the management of potential conflicts of interest. UNL, in response to these requirements, established a Conflict of Interest in Research (COI) policy. The purpose of the policies and procedures is to protect the credibility and integrity of UNL research to foster public trust and confidence.
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If you have interactions with, or propose interactions with federal, state, not-for-profit and for-profit entities, whether they involve sponsored funding or not, you are required to complete a Disclosure of Interest (DOI) form annually. The DOI form covers one year of activity. The point of entry to the DOI system is NUgrant, UNL’s electronic research administration system.
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File all disclosures of interest through NUgrant, UNL's electronic research administration system.
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What do I disclose?
You must disclose all significant financial interests from sources that are in any way related to your research. Some examples of significant financial interests you should disclose to the University include, but are not limited to:
- Consulting income, royalties, salary or other payments you receive outside the University of Nebraska system. You do NOT need to disclose income you receive from public or nonprofit entities for seminars or lectures, or for service on advisory committees, study sections, or review panels .
- Equity interests (e.g., stocks, stock options, bonds or other ownership interests) that, when combined for you and your immediate family (including your spouse, parent, parent’s spouse, child or anyone you may claim as a dependent under the IRS Code), exceed $2,000.00 in value if publicly traded or represent more than 5% ownership in a single entity where privately held or the value cannot be determined.
- Intellectual property rights (e.g., patents, copyrights, licenses, and royalties from such rights)
- Any position you or any member of your immediate family may hold as an officer in a company that seeks to sponsor research with which you will be involved at the University (e.g., Officer, Owner, Partner, Employee, Board Member, Consultant).
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If I have a financial interest in an outside company, can that company apply for an SBIR/STTR grant?
University employees consulting outside the university should consult the guidance document entitled Guide to Consulting at UNL for additional information.
UNL Conflict of Interest in Research Policy
Policies on consulting and outside employment
The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska Bylaws on Outside Employment
The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska Policies on Conflict of Interest
Office of Research
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