Privacy Policy

Preamble

Research Junction Institute ("Research Junction," "the Institute," "we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of every Member, visitor, collaborator, donor, and participant. This Privacy Policy explains how the Institute collects, uses, stores, protects, discloses, and retains personal information in connection with the Institute's website, Academy, Community, research activities, membership programs, donation processing, and all other Institute services (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or using any Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of information as described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Definitions and Interpretation

"Data Subject" means an identified or identifiable individual to whom personal information relates.

"Institute Personnel" means employees, volunteers, mentors, Lead Investigators, and administrative staff authorized to access personal information.

"Personal Information" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual.

"Processing" means any operation performed on Personal Information, including collection, storage, use, disclosure, transfer, or deletion.

"Service Provider" means a third-party entity that processes Personal Information on behalf of the Institute.

2. Scope of This Policy

2.1 This Privacy Policy applies to Personal Information collected from, or relating to, every category of individual who interacts with the Institute, including website visitors, Academy students, Community members, researchers, mentors, Lead Investigators, volunteers, donors, reviewers, and guest collaborators.

2.2 This Privacy Policy does not apply to information processed by third-party websites or platforms that the Institute does not own or control, even where such platforms are linked from the Institute's website.

3. Information We Collect

3.1 Personal Identification Information: full name; email address; telephone number; country of residence; institutional affiliation; professional title; ORCID iD; and membership status.

3.2 Research Information: author information; institutional affiliations; ORCID identifiers; research interests; project assignments; authorship records; publication history; and manuscript-related communications.

3.3 Payment Information: information reasonably necessary to process payments. Payment transactions are processed securely through Stripe, Inc. The Institute does not store full credit card numbers on its own servers.

3.4 Technical Information: IP address; browser type; device information; operating system; date and time of access; pages visited; and information collected through cookies and similar technologies.

3.5 Information from Third Parties: In limited circumstances, the Institute may receive Personal Information from academic journals, institutional partners, or publicly available professional directories.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

The Institute processes Personal Information on one or more of the following bases: (a) the Data Subject's consent; (b) the necessity of processing to perform the Institute's obligations; (c) the Institute's legitimate interests in operating its educational and research mission; and (d) compliance with a legal obligation.

Where processing is based on consent, the Data Subject may withdraw that consent at any time by contacting the Institute in accordance with Section 17.

5. How We Use Your Information

The Institute uses Personal Information for the following purposes: creating and managing membership; verifying eligibility; processing payments and donations; communicating with Members; sending announcements; delivering Academy content; coordinating research projects; preparing journal submissions; identifying authors correctly; maintaining authorship and ORCID records; improving educational programs; responding to support requests; and complying with legal obligations.

The Institute will not use Personal Information for a materially different purpose without notice and, where required, additional consent.

6. Journal Submission Information

Where a manuscript is submitted through an Institute-coordinated project, the Institute may provide the following to publishers and journal editorial systems, to the extent required: full name; email address; institutional affiliation; ORCID iD; author role; corresponding author information; and other publication-related information reasonably required by the journal.

Only information reasonably required for manuscript submission is shared, and solely for that purpose.

7. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Institute's website uses cookies to: improve website performance; remember user preferences; maintain login sessions; improve user experience; and understand aggregate website usage.

Users may manage cookie preferences through browser settings. Disabling cookies may impair certain website features.

8. Communications

Members may receive: membership updates; research announcements; Academy notifications; Community updates; educational newsletters; policy updates; and administrative communications.

Members may unsubscribe from non-essential communications at any time. Administrative and membership-related communications reasonably necessary for a Member's participation may continue notwithstanding an unsubscribe request.

9. Sharing of Personal Information

The Institute does not sell Personal Information. The Institute may share Personal Information in the following limited circumstances: with Institute Personnel who require access to perform their duties; with Service Providers engaged to support Institute operations; with academic journals and publishers in connection with manuscript submission; where required by law or legal process; and with a successor entity in connection with a merger, acquisition, or reorganization.

10. Data Retention

The Institute retains Personal Information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill its educational, administrative, research, publication, legal, and operational responsibilities.

Research records, authorship information, publication history, and membership records may be retained indefinitely where reasonably necessary to preserve the integrity of academic records and institutional history.

11. Children's Privacy

Institute Services are intended for individuals who are at least sixteen (16) years of age. The Institute does not knowingly collect Personal Information from individuals younger than sixteen (16) years of age. Where the Institute becomes aware that such information has been collected, it reserves the right to remove the associated account and Personal Information.

12. International Data Transfers

The Institute serves Members from multiple countries, and Personal Information may be processed, transferred, and stored in jurisdictions other than the Data Subject's country of residence. By using the Services, the Data Subject acknowledges and consents to such cross-border processing. The Institute takes reasonable measures to protect Personal Information regardless of its geographic location.

13. Data Breach Notification

Where the Institute becomes aware of a security incident that has resulted, or is reasonably likely to result, in unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or loss of Personal Information, the Institute will promptly investigate and will notify affected Data Subjects and any applicable regulatory authority where required by law.

14. Third-Party Service Providers

The Institute engages trusted Service Providers, including: Stripe for payment processing; Google Workspace for communication, document management, and data storage; and, prospectively, analytics providers to understand website performance. Each Service Provider maintains its own privacy practices. The Institute takes reasonable steps to ensure Service Providers protect Personal Information consistent with this Privacy Policy.

15. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to: request access to your Personal Information; request correction of inaccurate information; request restriction of or object to certain processing; request erasure of Personal Information; and lodge a complaint with a competent data protection authority.

Requests for deletion or restriction will be evaluated in accordance with applicable law and the Institute's legitimate record-retention obligations. The Institute may decline requests that would materially compromise the integrity of academic or authorship records. To exercise any right, contact the Institute in accordance with Section 17.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

The Institute may revise this Privacy Policy periodically. Updated versions become effective upon publication on the Institute's website. Where a revision is material, the Institute will take reasonable steps to bring the change to the attention of active Members. Continued use of the Services following publication of an updated Privacy Policy constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the Institute's handling of Personal Information, please contact:

Research Junction Institute
Email: help@researchjunction.org

The Institute will make reasonable efforts to acknowledge and respond to privacy-related inquiries within any timeframe required by applicable law.

This Privacy Policy is to be read together with the Institute's Terms and Conditions, Authorship and Research Integrity Policy, Code of Conduct, and any other Policy adopted by the Institute.