Last updated: [DATE — 14th September 2026]
This Privacy Policy explains how ScholarsColab (“ScholarsColab,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects information across scholarscolab.com and everything offered on it — together, the Research Basket: our research mentor marketplace, research simulation codes and other digital downloads, research webinars, our blog, and our newsletter (together, the “Platform”).
It applies to everyone who uses any part of the Platform: visitors, project posters (“Clients”), researchers and mentors (“Researchers”), customers purchasing digital products, webinar registrants, blog readers, and newsletter subscribers.
By using the Platform, you agree to the collection and use of information as described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.
1. Who We Are
ScholarsColab operates the Research Basket — a set of research-focused services including a freelance marketplace connecting people who need research support with doctorate researchers, downloadable research simulation codes and datasets, research webinars, and research-focused blog content. If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact us at support@scholarscolab.com.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Research mentor marketplace
When you post a project, we collect your name, email address, phone number, country, professional affiliation, department, and the details of your project brief (title, description, domain, keywords, budget, and deadline).
When you register as a researcher or mentor, we collect your name, email address, phone number, professional affiliation, research areas, and — if you choose to provide them — links to your Google Scholar, GitHub, and LinkedIn profiles, along with your uploaded resume/CV and profile photo.
When you communicate through the Platform, we store the content of messages sent through our in-platform chat, along with any files you attach (up to 50MB per file). We also retain messages that were blocked for containing contact details (see Section 5.3), as part of our record for dispute resolution.
2.2 Research codes and other digital downloads
When you purchase a simulation code, dataset, or other digital product, our store (built on WooCommerce) collects your name, billing email address, billing address, and phone number, along with details of the order itself — the product purchased, price paid, and order date. Payment card or bank details are collected and processed directly by our payment gateway, not stored on our own servers (see Section 5.4).
To protect against unauthorized redistribution, download links for purchased code and datasets are logged against your account, including the IP address and timestamp of each download attempt.
If you create an account to make a purchase, this account is separate from a mentor or client account on the Platform, though we may use the same email address to recognize you across both if you use the Platform in more than one way.
2.3 Research webinars
When you register for a webinar, we collect your name, email address, and any other registration details we request for that specific session (such as your institution or area of interest). We use this information to send you joining instructions, reminders, and — where a session is recorded — access to the recording afterward.
If a webinar is hosted through a third-party platform (such as Zoom or Google Meet), that platform’s own privacy policy also applies to your participation, including any audio, video, or chat data collected during the session itself.
2.4 Blog
When you comment on a blog post, we collect the name, email address, and (optional) website you submit with your comment, consistent with standard WordPress comment functionality. Your email address is not displayed publicly but may be used to notify you of replies if you opt in.
2.5 Newsletter
When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your name and email address. Newsletter sign-up is available in multiple places across the Platform, including a standalone subscribe form and, optionally, at the point of leaving a blog comment.
2.6 Information collected automatically
We automatically collect certain technical information when you use the Platform, including your IP address, browser type, and device information. This is used for detecting and preventing automated abuse of our public forms (such as spam project submissions), maintaining shopping cart and session state on the store, securing digital downloads against unauthorized sharing, and general security and troubleshooting.
Our website uses cookies for basic functionality — including keeping you logged in, remembering your shopping cart contents between visits, and maintaining your session on the store — and may use additional cookies for analytics. You can control cookies through your browser settings, though disabling essential cookies may prevent parts of the store from functioning correctly.
2.7 Information from third parties
We display publicly available academic information — including publication titles, citation counts, and related metrics — sourced from Google Scholar, based on the profile link you provide us. We display similar publicly available profile information from GitHub if you link your GitHub account. This information reflects what is already public on those services; we do not access any private data from your Google or GitHub accounts.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Operate the research mentor marketplace — matching project posters with researchers, facilitating communication, and processing project assignments
- Process orders for research codes and other digital products, deliver download access, and provide customer support related to those purchases
- Register you for webinars, send joining details and reminders, and provide access to recordings where applicable
- Publish and moderate blog comments
- Review and approve project submissions before they go live, to keep the marketplace free of spam and unrealistic listings
- Compute match scores between projects and researchers, based on comparing project keywords against a researcher’s publication record
- Send transactional emails — order confirmations, download links, webinar reminders, project approval notices, applicant updates, and similar operational communications
- Send newsletter content, if you have subscribed, and you may unsubscribe at any time
- Detect and prevent fraud, spam, and abuse of the Platform, including automated bot submissions and unauthorized redistribution of purchased digital content
- Resolve disputes between Clients and Researchers, which may involve our team reviewing relevant project communications
- Meet accounting, tax, and legal obligations connected to purchases made on the store
- Improve and maintain the Platform’s security and functionality
4. How We Share Your Information
4.1 Between Clients and Researchers
When you post a project, interested Researchers can see your project brief. When a Researcher expresses interest in a project, the Client can see that Researcher’s name, professional affiliation, research areas, publication and citation data, and public profile links.
We do not share phone numbers or email addresses between Clients and Researchers. All communication happens through our in-platform chat, and our systems actively block messages that attempt to share contact details, so that project relationships remain protected by the Platform throughout.
4.2 With our project management team
Our internal project managers can access project details, applicant information, and — for arbitration purposes — the full content of project-related chat conversations, including messages that were blocked. This access exists specifically to resolve disputes fairly if a disagreement arises between a Client and a Researcher, and is documented as such to everyone using the chat feature.
4.3 Blocked communication attempts
To keep project relationships protected within the Platform, our systems automatically detect and block messages attempting to share phone numbers, email addresses, or third-party messaging app details. Blocked messages are retained (visible only to our project management team) as a record in case of a later dispute; they are never delivered to the other party.
4.4 Service providers
We share information with third-party service providers who help us operate the Platform, including:
- Email delivery services, to send transactional and newsletter emails on our behalf
- Payment gateway providers, to process payments for project escrow and for store purchases. (These may be different gateways for different parts of the Platform — [name the specific provider(s) integrated with WooCommerce here] processes store purchases; our project escrow feature, where enabled, is processed separately.)
- Webinar hosting platforms, such as Zoom or Google Meet, where a webinar is delivered through a third-party service
- Cloud hosting providers, to store Platform data securely
These providers are only permitted to use your information to provide services to us and are contractually bound to protect it.
4.5 Legal requirements
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others, or to investigate fraud.
4.6 We do not sell your information
We do not sell your personal information to third parties, and we do not display advertising on the Platform.
5. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services.
Project records, including chat history, are retained after a project’s completion to serve as a record for any future dispute.
Order and purchase records are retained for as long as required by applicable tax and accounting law in the jurisdiction where ScholarsColab operates, which in many jurisdictions is several years from the date of the transaction.
Webinar registration data is retained for the duration needed to deliver the session and any associated recording access, and thereafter as needed for our own records of attendance.
We may retain and use information as necessary to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
6. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted password storage, restricted access to sensitive data, secure file handling for shared documents, and access logging on protected digital downloads. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, or request deletion of your data, and the right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
To exercise these rights, contact us at support@scholarscolab.com. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.
You may update your account password at any time from within the Platform. You may unsubscribe from newsletter emails using the link in any newsletter, or by contacting us directly. You may request removal of a blog comment you submitted by contacting us with the details of the comment.
8. International Users
ScholarsColab connects Clients, Researchers, customers, and webinar participants across multiple countries. If you use the Platform from outside India, your information will be transferred to and processed in India, where our servers are located, which may have different data protection laws than your home country. By using the Platform, you consent to this transfer.
9. Children’s Privacy
The Platform is intended for use by professionals, researchers, students, and organizations, and is not directed at or intended for use by children under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected such information, we will take steps to delete it.
10. Third-Party Links and Services
The Platform contains links to and integrations with third-party websites and services, including Google Scholar, GitHub, and LinkedIn profiles, our payment gateway(s), and webinar hosting platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties, and we encourage you to review their respective privacy policies.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated policy on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at:
Email: support@scholarscolab.com Website: scholarscolab.com
This document is intended as a general description of ScholarsColab’s data practices and does not constitute legal advice. ScholarsColab recommends periodic legal review of this policy to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable data protection laws in the jurisdictions where it operates.