Kory Trott has been named the director of Virginia Tech’s Research Integrity and Consultation (RIC) Program. The position, part of the Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance (SIRC), incorporates the responsibilities of directing the research ethics consultation service, serving as the university research integrity officer, and leading the campus research ethics and compliance training program. 

“As Virginia Tech faculty innovate to tackle increasingly complex problems across the globe, the ethical landscape also gets more complex. Kory will lead a program to engage the university community in effective ways to ensure that researchers have the resources they need to identify, articulate, and come to a decision about the ethical dimensions of their work,” said Lisa M. Lee, associate vice president for research and innovation. 

In this role, Trott will develop and provide a comprehensive program of training experiences and learning opportunities to infuse ethics knowledge across the university, reaching Virginia Tech students, scholars, and researchers. In collaboration with faculty, staff, and leadership, he will shape the education and outreach program to promote ethical excellence and facilitate ethical decision making in all of Virginia Tech’s scholarship.

Trott said, “Research ethics education and research ethics consultation both help to support responsible research. Responsible research is essential to maintain the public’s trust in the amazing work that the Virginia Tech faculty are known for.”

Trained in law and public health, Kory has experience navigating complex research regulations. In his role as the university’s research integrity officer, he will provide the expertise to work with federal, state, and local officials and other external agencies to ensure the transparent implementation of research misconduct regulations. 

“I’m excited to be a part of Virginia Tech’s long history of innovation, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in SIRC and across the university to advance scholarly integrity at Virginia Tech,” Trott added.

Before joining Virginia Tech, Kory worked for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, where he served as a member of the Public Health Ethics and Strategy Unit in the Office of the Associate Director for Science. At CDC, he provided ethics training and ethics consultation across the agency, supporting a diverse scientific workforce. Prior to joining CDC, Kory was a staff member at the University of Wisconsin Health Sciences IRB. He holds an M.P.H. from Drexel University in Philadelphia and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School. 

The director of RIC reports to the associate vice president for research and innovation in the Division of Scholarly Integrity and Research Compliance. Anyone with questions about research integrity or research ethics training or who would like to schedule a consultation can reach Trott at integrity@vt.edu.

If you need assistance with research integrity and consultation, please contact Mary Potter at mmapotter@vt.edu.

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