The following examples illustrate the range of activities that might constitute a conflict of interest:
- Accepting gratuities or special favors from companies doing business or sponsoring one's research at the University
- Accepting over-scale honoraria for lectures at companies whose economic or political interests are affected by an investigator's research
- Performing evaluative research for a company in which the investigator has a financial interest
- Accepting a paid consultancy with a company having an interest in your research
- Using students to perform services for a company in which you have a financial interest
- Assigning as the required text for a course a book for which you receive royalties
- Accepting a research contract with a restrictive publication clause
- Providing privileged access to information developed with University or independent sponsorship to another entity in which you have a financial interest
- Negotiating on behalf of the University for the purchase of materials from a company in which you have a financial interest
- Directly influencing the negotiation of contracts, including research contracts or licensing contracts, between the University and a company in which you have a financial interest
- Accepting gifts from a student whom you must evaluate
- Providing or receiving financial bonuses for meeting subject recruitment targets or achieving stated results
- Holding office or membership on a board or committee of an entity supporting your University research
- Holding equity interests, including stock options, in an entity which supports your University research
- Receiving royalties or other licensing proceeds from intellectual property you invented and are evaluating or further developing
- Imposition of restrictions on the actions of students or trainees, including disclosure of research findings, at the request of a sponsor or financially interested company
