Ombuds Office
Responsibilities and Services
Preventive measures and GSP Training
- Regular courses and Training on Good Scientific Practice
- Refresher courses and Specialist GSP-Training for Research groups/institutes and clinics (upon request)
- Equivalency check of external GSP certificates
- Consulting on matters of Good Scientific Practice (GSP), e.g. publication, authorship, documentation requirements, ...
- Pre-submission scan of doctoral dissertation to check for plagiarism
- Random testing of MHH doctoral dissertations and habilitations focused on GSP aspects
- Consulting for researchers on GSP-related conflicts
- Mediation in GSP-related conflicts relating to supervision, advice on implementation of supervision agreements (Example of an individualized Supervision Agreement)
Supporting the Ombudsperson in Mediation and Preliminary Investigation:
- Mediation in scientific conflicts
- Initial investigation of potential scientific misconduct
Contact
Ombuds Office (Geschäftsstelle Ombudswesen und Gute Wissenschaftliche Praxis)
Dr. rer. nat. Olga Halle
Head of the Ombuds office
Phone:+49 (0) 511 532 6002
E-Mail: ombudsstelle[at]mh-hannover.de
The Ombudsperson of Hannover Medical School mediates conflicts pertaining to Good Scientific Practice (GSP) and investigates reports and allegations of Scientific Misconduct. For further information and appointments, please contact the Ombuds Office. In case of a conflict of interest, researchers can consult with the Deputy Ombudsperson or the Ombudsgremium für Wissenschaftliche Integrität in Deutschland (OWID). Parallel investigations by the local Ombudsperson and OWID are not permitted.
Doctoral candidates and researchers can contact and consult the Ombuds office on all matters of Good Scientific Practice and in case of conflict related to GSP.
Reports of scientific misconduct can be made at the Ombuds office or directly to the Ombuds person. The Ombudsperson will conduct a preliminary review and report about the result to the president of Hannover Medical School. If a suspicion of scientific misconduct cannot be dispelled during the preliminary review, the Ombuds person recommends to the president to open a formal investigation by the Commission of Good Scientific Practice.
The Ombudsperson und Deputy Ombudsperson are named by the senate of MHH for a duration of 5 years.
Effective from 1st October 2025, the MHH senate has named Prof. Dr. med. Karin Weissenborn, Clinic of Neurology, as the Medical School's new Ombudsperson. Prof. Weissenborn's predecessor, Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Werfel, continues to serve as Deputy Ombudsperson. Prof. Weissenborn and Prof. Werfel are also part of the Network of Ombudspersons in Lower Saxony, whose members meet annually and discuss current issues relating to GSP.
MHH Ombudspersons
Prof. Dr. Karin Weissenborn
Ombudsperson
Clinic for Neurology
Prof. Dr. Thomas Werfel
Deputy Ombudsperson
Head of the Department of Dermatology and Allergology
GSP Training for Doctoral students
For submission of the doctoral dissertation, doctoral candidates must provide proof of having attended the 3-part-lecture series or the GSP workshop (offered in German language only).
The next lecture series in English language will be offered at the beginning of the winter term 2026/27. Registration will be possible via this website in due time.
Proof of participation in all three parts of the lecture series is required when submitting a doctoral dissertation. Attending individual parts of the lecture series in different years is acceptable.
For information on Lectures in German language, please check the German version of the Website
The GSP workshop is currently offered in German language only. For details, please refer to the German version of the website.
eLearning
GSP eLearning
MHH doctoral students not enrolled at MHH (anymore) can request a GSP-eLearning-access code by e-mail to ombudsstelle@mh-hannover.de if the doctorate was registered before January 1st, 2021. Doctoral students who have registered their project on or after Januar 1st, 2021, are required to provide proof of having attended GSP training in presence (lecture series or workshop, see above).
GSP for Supervisors of Master and Doctoral Students
Proof of attendance is required for submission of a "Habilitation".
This 90-minute interactive training (in German language), which is offered every 3 months, focuses on aspects of supervision that require special attention in the context of Good Scientific Practice. The Ombudsperson of MHH, Prof. Werfel, und the head of the Ombuds office, Dr. Olga Halle, speak about important aspects pertaining to supervision of master and doctoral students and provide insight into the Ombuds work. Questions and discussion are very welcome!
Upcoming trainings:
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Please check the German version of the Website for specifics.
Guidelines and Recommendations
MHH - The principles of Hannover Medical School for the safegarding of good scientific practice MHH - Guideline on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for scientific documents DFG - Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Research Practice DFG - Scientific Freedom and Scientific Responsibility ALLEA - European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity GRC - Statement of Principles for Research Integrity Singapore Statement on Research Integrity The Trust Code (Code of Conduct for Equitable Research Partnerships)
Use of Academic Degrees and Titles
According to the German Rectors' Conference, academic titles obtained at German universities may only be used in the form in which they were awarded by the German university in Germany and abroad. Furthermore, Germany cannot issue any legally binding requirements for the translation of German academic degrees (e.g. Dr. med.) abroad; this is determined by the respective destination country.
(Translated from German using DeepL)
The ministries of education and cultural affairs of the federal states are responsible for the question of how an academic degree, university title or university job title acquired abroad can be used in Germany. Insofar as the Federal Republic of Germany has agreements and treaties with other states on equivalences in the field of higher education, these federal state regulations take precedence.
(Translated from German using DeepL)