Q: How should I mention an affiliation of a deceased student who contributed to my research?
I wish to add a former university fellow, who is now deceased, as the co-author of my research paper. How can I mention his affiliation with the research?
A person, whether living or dead, must be credited for their work. Even if a fellow researcher who worked along with you in your research has passed away, his or her contribution should be acknowledged. It's great that you have decided to acknowledge your deceased colleague for their contribution to your study. It is the most ethical thing to do under the circumstances.
You can add the name of your late colleague as a co-author, with a footnote to clarify that the co-author in question has passed away. It is also a good idea to mention the date of their death. However, you must inform the journal editor about the situation and get his/her approval first. Also, a deceased researcher can be included as a co-author only if he/she has made significant intellectual contributions to the research. If their contribution is not significant enough, their name can be mentioned in the acknowledgements section of the paper.
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This content belongs to the Conducting Research Stage