Getting Started
Welcome to UNC Research
Together, our faculty, scholars, research teams and research administrators constitute UNC Research.
Get Started in Research
Completing the action items below that apply to your role/research will help you get started UNC Research more smoothly.
In each row, action items are accessible under “Getting Started“. “Learn More” provides additional resources. Aim to complete relevant action items within the first two-weeks of your employment. Check with your supervisor for additional information.
Note: You must be on the University Virtual Private Network (VPN) to access Research systems off-campus, which requires Onyen and Password set-up.
Attend Research Orientation
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, in collaboration with other research support offices, offers various orientations for researchers, including clinical researchers, and research administrators.
- All researchers and research administrators should attend or review the appropriate ResearchOn training:
- ReAdOn: Research Administrators
- TeamOn: Principal Investigators (PIs), faculty, and project/program leads
- LeadOn: Department Leadership
- If you work with participants, complete UNC Human Subjects Research Personnel Orientation.
Get Started:
Complete your Conflict of Interest (COI) Annual Disclosure
Your Annual Disclosure is a transparency document that protects Participants, Researchers, and Research.
- All individuals involved in the design, conduct, or reporting of human-subjects of sponsored research must complete their Annual Disclosure:
- Before starting research
- During the annual disclosure period
- Within 30 days of a change in your interests
- Most complete disclosure in 10 minutes.
- Incomplete disclosures may delay protocols and awards.
Get Started:
Annual Disclosure (COI)Learn More:
Conflict of Interest (COI) WebsiteComplete Research Security Training
Research Security Training satisfies federal requirements and equips you to navigate University processes and apply best practices to your research.
- Everyone conducting federally-funded research must complete this training
- Before submitting proposals (up to 1 year prior)
- Annually while working on federally-funded research
- All other research personnel are advised to complete this training.
- Most complete training in 20 minutes.
- Incomplete training may delay protocols and awards.
Get Started:
Research Security TrainingLearn More:
Science & Security WebsiteAccess Key Research Management Systems
Those who conduct or administer research should ensure they have appropriate access to central systems used for sponsored programs across campus.
- If you conduct or administer sponsored programs, learn how to view and manage projects in Research Administration Management System & eSubmission (RAMSeS), UNCโs comprehensive sponsored program management system.
- If you are a clinical researcher, coordinate with your supervisor for appropriate UNC Health system access.
Get started:
Coming Soon: Using RAMSeS to manage projects (QRC)
Complete specialized training as needed for research with Human Participants, Animal Subjects, and for Lab Safety
The Office of Human Research Ethics (OHRE), the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) offer specialized training to uphold research ethics and safety.
- You must complete specialized training before conducting research with human participants, animal subjects, or dangerous materials.
- Visit the Office of Human Research Ethics โFor Researchersโ portal:
- To complete the CITI training required to conduct human subjects research
- CITI allows you to transfer training completions from another institution.
- Access UNC’s online research submission system (IRBIS), and
- Read SOPs and guidance for research.
- To complete the CITI training required to conduct human subjects research
- IACUC emails researchers a welcome packet with training and support when they are first listed on a relevant study.
- Environment, Health and Safety assigns all employees a safety course.
- Additional courses are assigned based on your role.
Transfer your Research Portfolio
If you are transferring ongoing research efforts to UNC from another institution, please contact [email protected].
- Email Sponsored Programs for assistance transferring your research portfolio to UNC.
Get Started:
Contact Sponsored ProgramsFind your Community
Connect to colleagues, professional development and sources of Research information.
- Find your place in the UNC Research Community. Departmental and central resources collaborate through a variety of UNC Research:
- Forums
- Professional organizations
- Newsletters and
- Communities of practice
Meet UNC Research
UNC Research is the Universityโs research enterprise. It provides opportunities and advances solutions to solve the most critical problems of today and tomorrow.
OVCR Leadership
Within UNC Research, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) partners with campus stakeholder to steward our research mission. OVCR supports research development, administration, and compliance.
Dr. Penny Gordon-Larsen is the Vice Chancellor for Research and serves as the R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor in Nutrition in the Gillings School of Public Health.
Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)
OSP is the primary contact for all sponsored programs at the University.
Learn More:
Sponsored Programs OfficeSchool of Medicine, Sponsored Program Office (SPO)
School of Medicine’s SPO supports proposal review for select grants and agreements.
Learn More:
School of Medicine, SPOOne Clinical Research
One UNC Clinical Research centralizes communication, resources, and policies for clinical research at UNC-CH and UNC Health.
Learn More:
One Clinical ResearchCollege and School Resources
After completing these on-boarding steps, select your College or School to connect with your Research expertise.
College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences offers resources for Faculty and Research Administrators.
- For CAS Researchers:
- Attend the CAS New Faculty Orientation, which includes information on launching your research career.
- Review the CAS Research Support New Faculty Handbook.
- For CAS Research Admins:
- Review the CAS Research Support Team Onboarding Guide; reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Kenan-Flagler School of Business
Kenan-Flagler Business School provides onboarding materials to incoming staff and faculty and hosts a biannual Kenan-Flagler New Employee Welcome Session.
- Incoming faculty should visit the Kenan-Flagler Library Services page and contact [email protected] with any research-related questions.
- All incoming staff and faculty should attend a New Employee Welcome Session to hear high-level discussions about the School’s academic programs and initiatives.
Adams School of Dentistry
The Adams School of Dentistry provides new research faculty and staff an onboarding checklist within their first week of employment.
- Visit the ASOD research webpage to connect to research networks, mentorships, and resources.
- Contact [email protected] with any questions.
School of Education
The School of Education maintains an intranet for faculty and staff.
- Connect to the SOE SharePoint, available under “Info for Faculty/Staff” to review department contacts and guidance.
School of Government
The School of Government maintains web resources for research and research administration.
- Review the School of Government and Knapp Library websites for resources.
- Connect Kara Millonzi, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation with any questions.
School of Information and Library Sciences
School of Data Sciences
School of Data and Information Sciences research onboarding/orientation plans are underway.
- On July 1st, the School of Information and Library Sciences and the School of Data Sciences will merge.
- SDIS releases weekly digests and invites new researchers to drop by office hours.
Hussman School of Journalism
Contact school administrators for more information.
School of Law
The UNC Law Library will contact new law faculty to schedule a research consultation and introduce the libraryโs faculty research services.
- Reach out to [email protected] for more information.
School of Medicine
School of Medicine offers orientation for all new employees.
- Incoming researchers and research administrators should visit SOM website to learn more about the research community.
- The Research tab highlights awards, education and training opportunities, and offices, services and other research support resources.
- The People tab connects employees to a wide range of administrative and faculty resources.
School of Nursing
School of Nursing provides new researchers and research administrators with one-on-one orientation after their start date.
- Visit the SON Sharepoint site, which will be shared with you at your orientation, to find submission and award management information, templates, and contacts.
Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Eshelman School of Pharmacy provides a guide to help orient new faculty.
- Visit Pharmacy Research Support Page (password protected) for links to ESOP resources for researchers.
Gillings School of Public Health
The Gillings School of Public Health offers consultations, resources and guidance for researchers and research administrators.
- Review the Resources for Gillings Researchers and the Gillings Research Compliance webpage.
- Contact [email protected] for departmental support navigating the research lifecycle.
School of Social Work
The School of Social Work offers specific resources for Faculty and Research Administrators.
- An overview of our research and research mission can be found on our research webpage.
- Guidelines and support services for new Faculty and Research Administrators are available on the School of Social Work’s intranet:
Strategic Research Priorities
University Library
Schedule a research consultation with library staff to learn more about resources the University Library offers to support your research.
- Visit library.unc.edu to get started with your research.
- Interlibrary loan is available to all faculty, staff, and students to access materials not owned by the library.
Maintained by Research Compliance Committee: Learning Link | Contact Research Compliance Services: Training for updates.