What does scientific rigor look like when time is limited, funding is finite, and real projects don’t unfold under ideal conditions? Scientific rigor is often discussed as an ideal—but real biomedical research unfolds under constraints. Time is limited. Funding runs out. Reagents, animals, access to specialized experimental methods, and personnel all cost money. These realities shape study design, analysis choices, and the strength of the conclusions we can justify.
We'll focus on rigor as a practical and learned skill: making defensible, transparent decisions when resources are finite. Rather than centering misconduct, compliance, or reproducibility alone, the session will examine how sound methodology, careful inference, and clear reporting operate when tradeoffs are unavoidable.
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Through short case examples and interactive discussion, speakers will explore issues including:
- How time and money quietly influence experimental and analytical choices
- Which methodological compromises are reasonable—and which undermine inference
- How to prioritize rigor when additional experiments aren’t feasible
- How transparent reporting and calibrated claims can strengthen science under constraint
This session is particularly relevant for graduate students who are analyzing data, writing manuscripts, or approaching thesis‑level decisions, though all trainees and faculty are welcome.
Designed to fit the summer research rhythm, the format emphasizes concrete examples, reflection, and audience engagement rather than lectures or formal training.
Participants are encouraged to bring real questions from their own work.
Thursday, June 11, 2026
12:00 pm ET
Zoom Meeting
Speakers:
Stephanie Hicks, Associate Professor, Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University.
Michael Gionfriddo, Staff Scientist Senior, Geisinger College of Health Sciences.
Daniel Kessler, Director of Biomedical Graduate Studies and Associate Dean for Graduate Studies, University of Pennsylvania.
Register here to receive the Zoom link!
