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Student Research
Publication of Student Research
A major part of graduate education is gaining research experience. Publications are the main avenues of sharing research with others in the field. Such publications not only serve the research community, but advance professional experience and credentials, and the reputation of the institution at which the research was conducted. Publication experience is generally an important consideration for potential employers of masters and doctoral students. Faculty supervisors and advisors can help the student become familiar with publication opportunities and requirements.
Ownership of Student Research
Intellectual Property Policies
Intellectual property is a type of personal property derived from the work of the mind. University of Illinois intellectual property embodies discoveries and inventions arising from the creative activity of University employees or non-employees using University facilities and funds. Nearly every original scholarly or scientific activity creates new intellectual property; new crop varieties or germplasm; computer software; equipment or apparatus for the field or laboratory; DNA constructs; tissues, cells, or DNA of experimental lines of cells or animals; novel methods or procedures; artwork; music; poetry; and publications, just to name a few.
Background reading on intellectual property policies is highly recommended to all graduate students and faculty advisors. The brochure, What You Need to Know About Intellectual Property, is available from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 404 Swanlund Administration Building.
According to the General Rules of the University, the University owns discoveries and inventions made by its employees, graduate students or by users of its facilities, equipment, and funds, and has the right to protect valuable intellectual property embodied in discoveries and inventions with utility patents, licenses, contracts, plant patents, trademarks, plant variety protection certificates, or copyrights. The University has clear and generous policies on sharing revenue obtained from protection of its intellectual property with its personnel.
Another University policy states that University personnel, including graduate students, do not have the authority to release the University's intellectual property to other individuals or organizations. The Board of Trustees of the University, through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, is the only entity that has legal authority over intellectual property.
Graduate students should notify their faculty advisor if they receive requests for samples of animals, tissues, cell lines, DNA constructs, probes, expression cassettes, tissue cultures, novel physical, chemical or biological agents or for loan of specialized equipment or apparatus, from a person at another University, agency, or private industry. These requests are often appropriate to honor if the University is able to protect its intellectual property from unauthorized use, by executing a "Materials Transfer Agreement" before exchanging materials. Contact your faculty advisor for additional information.
When they leave the University, graduate students may not remove physical, chemical, biological or any other materials without a properly executed Materials Transfer Agreement.
Data, Laboratory and Field Notebooks, and Other Records of Research
The University of Illinois owns the results of research or development carried out by students, faculty, employees, or other users of its facilities if funded by the University or supported by funds controlled by the University. Since the results of research may lead to patents, licenses, or other forms of intellectual property protection, graduate students are requested to adopt standardized procedures for recording data, observations, and interpretation. Please consult your faculty advisor for information on the preferred procedures for recording data and interpretations.
All original copies of your research data, laboratory and field notebooks, and other records of research are the property of the University and must be delivered to your faculty advisor before you graduate and leave the campus. To facilitate completion of unfinished manuscripts after graduation, graduate students are encouraged to make photocopies of any data or records needed for the publication process. Graduate students are encouraged to prepare advanced drafts of manuscripts arising from their theses before departing from the University.