Ethical DilemmasAdvisor – Advisee Relationships

Bess, Katie, Deanna, Darrin, Paul, Emily, Lindsay

Enrico Fermi is a first year graduate student at the University of Minnesota. Professor Mendeleev is a chemistry professor at the U. The Fermi and Mendeleev

families have been close friends for many years and frequently see one another at informal gatherings and on vacations.

SITUATION #1

It is November and Enrico is trying to choose a

research group. He is interested in organic

chemistry and has met with (and gotten his

sheet signed by) several professors including Professor

Mendeleev. Enrico is very interested in Mendeleev’s

research and is strongly considering joining his group but has not yet made a

decision.

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http://www.york.ac.uk/res/gcg/GCG/images/background-shinichi.jpg

The Fermi and Mendeleev families take a weekend camping trip to Ontario, Canada.

After consuming several perfectly-roasted marshmallows while sitting around the roaring campfire, Professor Mendeleev starts talking animatedly about his fellow organic chemistry professors.

In particular, he criticizes Professor Planck about his inability to get grant proposals approved. He says to Enrico,

“Did you know that Professor Planck’s last five proposals were rejected? You really don’t want to join a group like that. Have you made your decision yet? You should really join my group.”

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

• How should Enrico respond to Professor

Mendeleev?

• Enrico is very interested in Professor Mendeleev’s research. Should he still consider working for him?

• What additional things should Enrico talk about with Professor Mendeleev before agreeing to work with him?

Marie Curie is a third year graduate student in Professor Schrödinger’s lab. She is finishing up the first part of her graduate school research and is trying to decide what direction to take her research in.

SITUATION #2

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The Curie and Schrödinger families have been close friends for many years and frequently see one another at informal

gatherings and on vacations.

The Curie and Schrödinger families, who are more adventurous than the Fermi and Mendeleev families, decide to go

skydiving in Arizona one weekend.

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While preparing to leap out of a plane into the Grand Canyon, Professor Schrödinger

suddenly exclaims to Marie,

“Eureka! I’ve just had a brilliant idea for a new project that will be both lucrative and revolutionary! I haven’t talked to anyone else about this yet, but it’s your project if

you’re interested.”

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

•What should Marie say before leaping out of the plane?

•Should she consider working on this project? Under what circumstances?

REVISIT SCENARIO #1

What if Mendeleev made fun of Professor Planck for being German instead of for not getting grant proposals approved?

IMAGINE THE FOLLOWING…

Professor Mendeleev criticizes Professor Planck for being German. He says to Enrico,

“Professor Planck is one of those crazy German professors. You really don’t want to join a group like that. Have you made your decision yet? You should really join my group.”

REVISIT SCENARIO #2

What if Professor Schrödinger had offered Marie the project because she’s female instead of for being a

close family friend?

IMAGINE THE FOLLOWING…

While preparing to leap out of a plane into the Grand Canyon, Professor Schrödinger

suddenly exclaims to Marie,

“Eureka! I’ve just had a brilliant idea for a new project! I haven’t talked to anyone else about

this yet, but I think women are far more intelligent than men and hold much more

potential in scientific research so it’s your project if you’re interested.”