5a. Responsible Conduct of Research Training
Jump to section:
- Whom do I contact?
- How do I know if I need to complete RCR or RECR training?
- How do I complete RCR training?
- Will my training be monitored?
- What are other relevant policies, procedures, and links?
1. Whom do I contact?
To meet its institutional obligation to provide responsible conduct of research (RCR) training, the University of Iowa has established an RCR plan under the joint sponsorship of the Graduate College and the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Responsible Conduct of Research website
Questions about the RCR plan or CITI online training may be directed to:
- Mike Andrews
Research integrity officer
319-335-2106 - Kevin Zihlman
Associate director of research integrity and security
319-335-9718
Questions about formal course requirements may be directed to:
- Shelly Campo
Assistant research integrity officer and Graduate College associate dean for administrative affairs
319-335-2136
2. How do I know if I need to complete responsible conduct of research or responsible and ethical conduct of research training?
Federal requirements stipulate that trainees who receive salary support from certain federal awards must complete RCR training.
Federal awards that require RCR training:
National Science Foundation awards
Trainees (undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows) who receive salary support from National Science Foundation (NSF) grants submitted on or after Jan. 4, 2010, must complete RCR training.
For proposals submitted after July 31, 2023, the NSF also requires faculty and senior personnel to complete an online course in the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RECR) at the time of award.
National Institutes of Health awards
Trainees (undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career faculty with K awards) supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) training, career development, research education, or dissertation research grants on or after Jan. 25, 2010, and for all continuation (Type 5) applications with deadlines on or after Jan. 1, 2011, must complete RCR training for applicable submissions and continuations.
National Institute of Food and Agriculture awards
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) requires program directors, faculty, students, postdoctoral researchers, and participating staff to receive appropriate training and oversight in the RECR.
The Graduate College recommends that all graduate students and postdoctoral researchers complete this training, regardless of funding source. Review its policy.
Departments may have additional requirements.
3. What are the RCR training requirements?
The RCR website describes specific training requirements for each type of trainee.
As trainees at the University of Iowa enter a new phase of their career, they are required to obtain additional RCR training consistent with their new university position (e.g., undergraduate moving into a graduate student position; graduate student moving into a postdoctoral scholar position; postdoctoral scholar moving into a K-award faculty position). NIH, NSF, and NIFA mandate this continuation of RCR training.
4. Will my training be monitored?
Yes. The OVPR monitors compliance with federal requirements. Failure by trainees to complete RCR training could result in the suspension of research activities and grant funding support.