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The fact that Ross didn't mean to do this is all the more reason why someone - maybe an IRB, maybe not (your argument makes sense) - should be assisting 20-something researchers with having a well-informed perspective.

In the absence of an organization that's good at this (which doesn't seem to exist and should), this probably should be the supervising professors.

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As a research group leader, I find it unfortunate that the grad student seems to be the public face of this and is therefore attracting most of the ire. Feels like the student is being thrown under the bus, and responsibility for ensuring the study is conducted ethically should ultimately be that of the principal investigator.

Thank you for making this point. I didn't articulate it, but this is part of why I felt I had to say something.

I hope this fellow Ross does not become suicidal or otherwise depressed when he sees the weight of the internet coming down on him for this faux pas. Ross, none of this wil matter in a year. Or 5 years.

Mayer posted an apology last night taking full responsibility. Hardly throwing his student under the bus.

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