Ombuds Office
Responsibilities and Services
- Consulting on matters of Good Scientific Practice (GSP)
- Initial investigation of potential scientific misconduct
- Mediation in scientific conflicts
- Consulting on GSP-related conflicts for doctoral candidates and PostDocs
- 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
- Random testing of MHH doctoral dissertations and habilitations focused on GSP aspects
- Pre-submission scan of doctoral dissertation to check for plagiarism
- Example of an individualized Supervision Agreement
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.
In August 2020, Prof. Dr. med. Thomas A. Werfel was named Ombudsperson of MHH for his second term und Prof. Dr. med. Michael Gebel was confirmed as Deputy Ombudsperson. Prof. Werfel and Prof. Gebel 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. Thomas Werfel
Ombudsperson
Head of the Department of
Dermatology and Allergology
Prof. Dr. Michael Gebel
Deputy Ombudsperson
Senior Physician at the Dept. of Gastroenterology,
Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, and Endocrinology
GSP Training for Doctoral students
For submission of the doctoral dissertation, students must provide proof of having attended the 3-part-lecture series or the GSP workshop (offered in German language only).
Winter semester 2025/26
Lecture series in English language: October 28th - 30th; 2.00 p.m. - 3.30 p.m.; Lecture Hall A (I02-H0-1180):
Tuesday, Oct 28th, 2025, Part 1: Introduction and Data Management
Wednesday, Oct 29th, 2025, Part 2: Scientific Misconduct and how to avoid it
Thursday, Oct 30th, 2025, Part 3: Statistics and good scientific practice
Registration for non-HBRS students is possible via this link.
HBRS students do not need to register via this website, but will be automatically enrolled and will be provided with certificates of attendance by their program coordinators.
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.
Wintersemester 2025/26
Vorlesungsreihe vom 24.-26. November 2025, jeweils von 14:00 - 15:30 Uhr in Hörsaal D [I02-H0-1460]:
Montag, 24.11.2025 - Teil 1: Einführung und Datenmanagement (Dr. Olga Halle)
Dienstag, 25.11.2025 - Teil 2: Wissenschaftliches Fehlverhalten und Plagiate (Dr. Olga Halle)
Mittwoch, 26.11.2025 - Teil 3: Statistik und gute wissenschaftliche Praxis (Dr. Olga Halle and Dr. Stephan Halle)
Bitte melden Sie sich hier für die Vorlesungsreihe an.
Die Teilnahmebestätigung für die Vorlesungsreihe (Teil 1-3) wird als GWP-Nachweis beim Einreichen einer Dissertation anerkannt. Es ist grundsätzlich zulässig, die Teilvorlesungen in verschiedenen Semestern zu absolvieren.
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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3. Quartal 2025: Mittwoch, 24.09.2025, 11:30 - 13:00 Uhr, Hörsaal G. Bitte melden Sie sich hier an.
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4. Quartal 2025: Der Termin wird noch bekannt gegeben.
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)