30th Annual Undergraduate and 15th Annual Graduate Research Conference
Plenary Address
Dr. Julio Turrens
Interim Associate VP for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School, University of South Alabama
Responsible Conduct of Research: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Dr. Julio F. Turrens received his doctoral degree in Biological Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He came to the US for his post-doctoral training at Duke and Johns Hopkins universities. In 1987 he joined the faculty at the University of South Alabama and has remained at this institution since then. He is currently Professor of Biomedical Sciences, and over the years has served as Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Studies in the College of Allied Health from 2004 to 2016. In 2016, he was appointed as interim Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School. He has published over 100 papers and book chapters. His research is focused on free radical metabolism in mammalian cells and also on intermediate metabolism of parasitic protozoa. In 1998 he designed a campus-wide program for undergraduate research which since then has received funding from NASA and the NSF. The NSF grant was renewed four times. In addition to teaching Biochemistry courses and his interest in basic research, Dr. Turrens has developed undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of Bioethics and Responsible Conduct of Research. He has served as a consultant for the European Commission and other organizations on issues of Research Misconduct and Forensic Analysis of data.
Dr. Turrens' plenary address, "Responsible Conduct of Research: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly", will trace historical milestones which have led to contemporary ideas about the responsible conduct of research. The address will touch on various topics related to the responsible conduct of research including some basic rules, questionable practices, and the forensic analysis of fabricated data. Dr. Turrens' address will be an invaluable aid to all scholars involved in academic research.