Research Policy

Research is the culmination of ideas from a multidisciplinary team of students and faculty members on an independent endeavor in art, math, science and applied areas. This can be visualized typically as a unique solution to a current problem or as an improvement to an existing solution of scientific and preferably socioeconomic significance.

At PHCET we promote principles of critical thinking, lateral thinking and perseverance as the pillars of research in the path of the ever-curious.

1. Faculty and staff of PHCET are expected to follow the code of ethics whilst executing their duties
2. Faculty members are expected at all times to promote an atmosphere of sincerity and the currency of trust in the scientific work they present to the college and to the community in general. This trust may be established by truthfully representing data, facts and figures without bias, interpreting what is known, and accepting the unknown without fictionalizing or manipulating it.
3. When quoting someone else’s work, everyone at PHCET is expected to acknowledge and recognize the contribution of earlier workers irrespective of junior co-workers and students and / or assistants. One is expected to take consent while publishing work and collecting data on specific matters which could include personally identifiable information of an individual.Confidentiality of individuals should be protected, anonymity maintained and written consent should be obtained as deemed necessary for any such information.
4. Professional integrity and scientific responsibility must be maintained when presenting work. Every researcher at PHCET is expected to do a thorough pre-literature search of both patents and publications, and build up on existing knowledge. This is done to avoid duplication and encroachment on another researcher’s contribution. All PHCET employees are expected to present their own contribution in the form of written, oral and electronic communications and refrain from copying or infringing on other individual’s or organization’s work except for the purpose of recognized referencing or local non-commercial educational purposes. To this end, all undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral work must be screened for similarity of content using “Turnitin” software.
5. Respect for people’s rights and dignity is considered one of the primary prerequisites for research. PHCET personnel in particular should follow the guidelines for refraining from uttering harmful truths which might incite and hurt religious and social sentiments while representing facts or interpreting results.
6. Respect for the Environment must be retained such that the work carried out does not harm the environment and cause calamities in the present and foreseeable future.

1. General guidelines for faculty members and students include:
   1. Ensuring accuracy, authenticity and reliability of data
   2. Complying with all University procedures and requirements
   3. Backing up data by making use of the unlimited cloud space provided on MES drive
   4. Storing data such that it can be useful for future researchers
   5. Complying with confidentiality and anonymity requirements
2. Research data, theses and all materials intended for publication are to be screened for similarity using the “Turnitin” software available in the library. The faculty and students are advised to consult with the heads of the departments if the similarity index is over 15%.
3. PHCET faculty and students are advised to publish in reliable Scopus / Springer journals and conference proceedings which are approved by the UGC. It is advised to consider the latest list of journals approved by the UGC and resist from publishing in predatory journals.
4. PHCET faculty must take initiatives to excite and stimulate our students to take interest in STEM topics as possibly multidisciplinary projects targeting sustainable solutions to socio economic problems.
5. Faculty must promote converting academic research to technology and enterprise through innovation.
6. The Research team consisting of dedicated professors of PHCET should formulate research topics related to industrial and future societal problems. They may choose to co-opt for other experts in the field such as Professors from other Institutions of higher learning and other professional bodies. This may be achieved by interacting with policy makers and trade organizations like CII, FICCI by way of seminars and symposiums to identify applied thrust areas for future research.

1. All professional engagements with external organizations must be governed by an appropriate contract, whether in the form of collaboration, a consultancy or an initial discussion about a prospective research project involving the disclosure or receipt of confidential information.
2. All Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA), Material Transfer Agreements (MTA), and Undertakings to cover the involvement of non-employees in research projects must be strictly adhered to.
3. The Research Development Team can advise on how to engage with business through consultancy, knowledge transfer partnerships, contract and collaborative research.
4. For any legal help for drafting a contract, etc., faculty must contact the Principal.
5. Principal would arrange to provide required assistance for any Intellectual Property related activity.
6. Principal would arrange to put forward to the management any case for supporting commercialization resulting from Research.
7. Faculty members are encouraged to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with industries for joint research and innovation to improve product quality while helping students with latest tools and techniques to enhance their employability.
8. Faculty members are required to look for internship opportunities for students in industries with which they are engaged to enhance their practical experience during summer vacation.
9. Faculty members are encouraged to generate funds from both the Government and the private sector by way of sponsored and consultancy projects to promote academic research and convert it to enterprise through academic research and innovation.

1. The Research finance team coordinates, manages and provides support for all aspects of research grant management. This team shall ensure compliance with internal financial regulations to help researchers, both students and faculty to deliver high quality, timely results.
2. A Research Finance Officer will be allocated for providing a single point of contact for all projects. Faculty members and students are advised to discuss all financial aspects of a research project with the Research Finance Officer.