Guidelines for acknowledgement of SLIM
Overview
Guidance on acknowledging the use of SLIM facilities, equipment, and specialist support in publications and research outputs.
Why Acknowledgement Matters
SLIM provides researchers with access to advanced imaging instrumentation and specialist expertise that support high-quality research outputs. Acknowledging the facility and staff contributions is important for demonstrating impact, supporting future funding applications, and recognising the collaborative nature of research.
Acknowledgement Principles
- All publications resulting from the use of SLIM equipment or facilities should acknowledge SLIM support.
- SLIM should be informed of publications arising from work supported by the facility.
- Significant scientific or technical contributions from SLIM staff should be recognised appropriately.
- Relevant grant funding associated with facility equipment should be acknowledged where applicable.
Example Acknowledgement Statement
“The authors gratefully acknowledge the School of Life Sciences Imaging (SLIM) facility for their support and assistance in this work.”
When Co-Authorship May Be Appropriate
Support that goes beyond routine facility use may warrant co-authorship on resulting publications. This may include substantial contributions to:
- Experimental design
- Development or optimisation of imaging workflows
- Advanced image acquisition
- Complex image analysis and interpretation
- Custom image processing and/or analysis pipeline development
- Specialist scientific input
Grant Acknowledgements
Some SLIM equipment has been funded through specific research grants. Where required, relevant grant numbers should be acknowledged in publications generated using that equipment. SLIM staff can advise users on the appropriate grant information to include.
Example Scenarios
The examples below provide general guidance on the level of acknowledgement that may be appropriate depending on the type of support provided.
Contacts
For advice regarding acknowledgements, authorship, or grant information, please contact:
Robert Markus – Co-Director & Advanced Technical Specialist
Seema Bagia – Co-Director & Advanced Technical Specialist