You raise an important question.  It is important to detail the actual contribution, since programming may be perceived as purely implementing an idea with no creative input.<p>That said… in my career so far, I don&#x27;t think I&#x27;ve ever seen a clean example of coding someone else&#x27;s idea to spec.  If you successfully take an idea from concept to working software, or if a research project requires complex software to be written, I think it is almost inevitable that the software developer will end up making a creative contribution.<p>I&#x27;m also a bit suspicious about the justification that you can&#x27;t be listed because aren&#x27;t a &quot;scientist&quot;.  Of course, I don&#x27;t know the details, but it seems fishy.