Reviews, Reputation, Badges and Verification

1. Purpose

Symposed uses project-based reviews and platform indicators to help users assess reliability and to recognise genuine participation, mentoring and beginner support. These features are intended as trust signals, not professional accreditation.

2. Reviews

• A review must relate to a genuine project interaction or collaboration that the reviewer directly experienced.

• Reviews must be honest, relevant, proportionate and submitted in good faith.

• Do not include patient data, confidential project information, private contact details or unnecessary personal information.

• Do not buy, sell, trade or coerce reviews. Do not make a positive review a condition of authorship or threaten a negative review to obtain work.

• Do not use a review to harass, discriminate against, doxx or retaliate against another user.

• We may ask for information showing that a genuine project connection existed and may remove reviews that breach policy or cannot reasonably be linked to platform activity.

3. Reliability indicators

Symposed may display reliability indicators based on project-related reviews, completion information, response or platform activity, or other published criteria. A reliability indicator is a platform-generated signal and may be incomplete, disputed or affected by limited data. It is not a guarantee that a person will perform in a particular way.

Criteria may change as the platform develops. Where a material factual error is identified, users can request review through the appeal or support route.

4. Beginner and mentor recognition

A New Researcher or similar indicator may identify a user with limited recorded project experience on Symposed. It does not mean the person lacks research experience elsewhere. A Research Mentor or similar badge may recognise platform-defined beginner support. It does not certify teaching competence or professional standing.

Symposed may give beginner-friendly projects or recognised mentors additional platform visibility or non-cash benefits. Criteria and incentives may change and may be removed where misused.

5. Verification

Verification may use an institutional email address or other evidence. Verification confirms only the specific verification step completed at the time. It is not a background check and does not guarantee identity, current employment, professional registration, good standing, authority to supervise, or project legitimacy.

Users should carry out their own appropriate checks. We may revoke verification where information is inaccurate, outdated, misused or no longer meets the criteria.

6. Challenges and appeals

If you believe a review, badge, verification status or reliability indicator breaches this policy or contains a material factual error, use the report or appeal route. Disagreement alone does not guarantee removal. We may restrict a review while investigating and may seek information from the users involved.