THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING

Weighing Contributions to an Article

Author(s): Caroline Whitbeck

You employ Postdoc 1 who begins a research project to isolate microorganisms that have a particular enzymatic activity against a target molecule. Excellent progress is achieved with the isolation of the organism, but you, as the professor in charge of the project want to publish in a higher quality journal. You put Postdoc 2 on the project. This postdoc has extensive experience in protein purification and characterization.

After 12 months Postdoc 1 accepts a position and leaves after writing a paper based on existing data, but which is not sufficient for the journal in which you want to publish. Finally, a paper giving the full characterization of the target molecule is ready to submit to the desired journal. Postdoc 2, has generated most of the data in the paper and has also written a considerable part of the manuscript.

Who should be first author?

• Return to Research Ethics Module Supporting Pages

• A Vaccine for Isolated Populations

• When Should We Accept Consent?

National Academy of Engineering

500 Fifth Street, NWWashington, DC 20001T. 202.334.3200F. 202.334.2290