Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
Ongoing training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is mandated by all federal granting programs including NIH and NSF. The Office of Postdoctoral Affairs offers a course twice a year (spring and fall) that will satisfy the RCR training requirements for the NIH and NSF research grant applications.
Training Information
Fall Session: November
Spring Session: March
Next Session: Fall RCR Training– Week of November 14, 2022 (11/14, 11/15, 11/17) Register Here
*Postdoctoral Scholars must complete all three days to receive a certificate of completion.
Course is available for all UNC-CH Postdoctoral Scholars. Graduate students should inquire with the UNC Graduate School for appropriate RCR training options.
Objectives and Goals
The primary objective for the UNC Postdoctoral Scholar Three Day Course is to address RCR topics such as Publication Practices and Responsible Authorship, Mentor/Trainee Responsibilities, Research Misconduct, and Communication and Difficult Conversations.
The program’s goals are to:
- Provide a basic training in research ethics which will focus on ethical decision making and encourage postdoctoral scholars to think about the impact of their research and decisions on society.
- Introduce interdisciplinary views into the ethics training
- Create a community that promotes the importance of ethical issues and fosters open discussions among postdoctoral scholars as well as faculty, students and staff.
The following topics are covered during virtual/in-person instruction, totaling at least 8 hours or more of contact:
- Conflict of interest
- Policies regarding human subjects, live vertebrate animal subjects in research, and safe laboratory practices
- Mentor/mentee responsibilities and relationships
- Collaborative research
- Data management, sharing and ownership
- Research misconduct and policies for handling misconduct responsible authorship and publication
- Researcher as a responsible member of society, contemporary ethical issues
If you are interested in learning more, contact OPA at opa@unc.edu.
Additional Information and Resources
Relevant Links and Articles:
Office of Research Integrity newsletters
For more information about university policies, please visit Research Compliance Program website for Responsible Conduct of Research.
NAE workshop -Ethics Educations and Scientific and Engineering Research: What’s Been Learned? What Should Be Done?
UNC Resources:
Report Ethics Concerns to Ethics Point
Quick links
- To Report a Concern Anonymously: Ethics Point
- For HIPAA comments or questions: hipaa@unc.edu
Other Resources:
The National Academy Press Being a Scientist, A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research: Third Edition (2009) available online as a free .pdf
NPA Postdocket (Winter 2011) — Train-the-Trainer: A Different Approach to Responsible Conduct of Research, by Stephen Fuchs and Sibby Anderson-Thompkins
The Office of Research Integrity Guide to Ethical Writing
List of Participants that Completed Advanced Training in Responsible Conduct of Research:
Responsible Conduct of Research Training – Spring 2022
Responsible Conduct of Research Training – Fall 2021
Responsible Conduct of Research Training – Spring 2021
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Fall 2020
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2020
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2019
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2018
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Fall 2017
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2017
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Fall 2016
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2016
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2015
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Fall 2014
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2014
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Fall 2013
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2013
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Fall 2012
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Spring 2012
Responsible Conduct of Research Training — Fall 2011
