Did you know that if you receive research or fellowship funding through the National Science Foundation (NSF) or a fellowship from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) you are required to receive training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)? If you don’t have appropriate instruction, you—and the University—are at risk of losing that funding.
The NIH requires that all undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral fellows receiving support through any NIH training, career development award, research education grant, or dissertation research grant must receive instruction in RCR. At least eight hours of face-to-face instruction is required; online education alone is insufficient. Instruction must be undertaken at least once during each career stage, and no less than once every four years. The NSF has similar requirements, though less explicitly detailed than those of the NIH. The U-M website for scholarly integrity provides more information from these funding agencies.
Each of the schools and colleges at the University of Michigan has developed a plan to ensure that students and postdoctoral fellows can receive appropriate instruction in RCR. To locate the faculty and staff representatives who can provide more information consult the list on the U-M scholarly integrity website.
Responsible and ethical behavior in scholarship are essential to all facets of graduate education. Whether or not your funding requires it, make certain that you are familiar with the professional standards of your discipline. The responsible conduct of research and scholarship should be part of your ongoing professional development.
Published in: Professional Development