"If a professor had financial interest in the subject being taught, it would certainly be important to disclose that to the students at the beginning of the class," he adds.
The heavy hand that outside organizations play in funding research does, however, raises the common concern that professors will be unavailable to their students due to these commitments.
Elizabeth D. Chao '00, who works in the Schreiber Laboratory in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, says she believes this situation is potentially problematic for College students.
"You never meet your professors unless you make an attempt," Chao says. "But [Harvard] is a research institution, and you get used to your professors being in charge of numerous other things."
Professor of Astronomy Robert B. Kirshner '70 says that the research funded by outside organizations is necessary to preserve institutions that promote "intellectual adventure."
"This work has nothing to do with IPOs, patents or personal gain," Kirshner says. "It has everything to do with the power of ideas."