Postplagiarism Research Lab

We are excited to share that in January, 2026 our new research lab has opened at the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, to support innovative and future-focused transdisciplinary research on the award-winning postplagiarism framework on topics such as ethics, equity, inclusion, academic integrity, artificial intelligence, and educational technology.

Led by Dr. Sarah Elaine Eaton, Werklund Research Professor, this dedicated space provides a professional environment for high-impact educational research and student mentorship.

Current Research Projects

The Postplagiarism Research Lab serves as the home for two major active research projects in 2026:

• BEACON Project (2025–2029): In the Bridging Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Neurotechnology (BEACON) project we investigate how participants perceive consumer-grade EEG headsets (brain-computer interfaces) within educational context.
• GUIDE Project (2025–2028): Short for Generative Understanding, Inclusive Design, and Ethical Assessment, this project focuses on developing inclusive assessment practices in the GenAI age. In the GUIDE project our work is underpinned by a ‘nothing about us without us’ approach, prioritizing employment and capacity-building opportunities for team members with lived and living experience with disability, differences, and neurodivergence. The team includes both neurotypical and neurodivergent members; disclosure is not a requirement and we respect our team members’ right to privacy.

Mentoring the Next Generation

A primary goal of the lab is to provide structured mentorship for undergraduate and graduate research assistants. Students working in the lab gain practical experience in:

• Research Methods: Research assistant receive training in research methods and data collection including semi-structured interviews, ethical protocols, and data analysis.
• Technical Proficiency: Lab members will develop hands-on exposure to emerging technologies such as EEG headsets and AI glasses.
• Professional Development: Skills in project management, knowledge mobilization, and scholarly writing.

Lab Members

• Sarah Elaine Eaton, PhD, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada, Principal Investigator and Lab Director
• Rahul Kumar, PhD, Faculty of Education, Brock University, Canada, Co-Investigator
• Beatriz Moya, PhD, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Chile, Co-Investigator
• Bibek Dahal, PhD candidate, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada
• Gengyan Tang, PhD candidate, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada
• Naomi Paisley, EdD candidate, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada
• Myke Healy, EdD candidate, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada
• Fuat Ramazanov, EdD candidate, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada
• Sarah Khalifa, BSc student, Faculty of Science, University of Calgary, Canada
• Diana Paola Sáenz Castro, PhD candidate, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya

Funding

We are grateful to our funders:

• Werklund School of Education
• University of Calgary Teaching and Learning Grants program

Supporters and Partners

We are grateful to the following organizations and partners for their support of our ongoing research projects and goals:

European Network for Academic Integrity (ENAI)

Faculty of Education, Brock University

Insituto de Étcas Aplicadas (IEA) at Pontificia Universidad Católica Chile