Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
RCR training compliance is managed through the Office for Research Integrity.
The goal of RCR training is for anyone involved in research to conduct their work in the most ethical manner possible. The National Science Foundation (NSF) mandates that, at the time of proposal submission, institutions must have a plan in place to provide appropriate RCR training and oversight for any student (graduate or undergraduate) or postdoctoral fellow supported by NSF. The National Institutes for Health (NIH) also requires RCR training.
In an effort to standardize the RCR training required for NSF trainees, Northwestern developed the plan below that went into effect on September 1, 2015. The policy applies to any undergraduate student, graduate student, or postdoctoral scholar funded by NSF.
Tracking of RCR training compliance (NSF only) is facilitated by the Office for Research Integrity, via myHR Learn.
Online and Instructor-Led RCR Training
Online Training: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program):
Topics include:
- RCR Course Introduction
- Authorship
- Collaborative Research
- Conflicts of Interest
- Data Management
- Mentoring
- Peer-Review
- Plagiarism
- Research Involving Human Subjects
- Research Misconduct
Instructor-Led Training
Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows must also complete a minimum 4 hours of in-person classroom training offered by their home department within one year of initial salary charges. In some cases, scholars are permitted to take courses offered by other departments. PhD students register through CAESAR; postdocs register through myHR Learn.
Weinberg RCR Training Requirement Policy
- Undergraduate Students: CITI web-based training must be completed within 60 days of initial salary charges.
- Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows: Both CITI web-based training and instructor-led training must be completed within one year of initial salary charges. Many Weinberg PhD programs require that all graduate students complete RCR training. These departments include:
- Anthropology
- Chemistry
- Earth and Planetary Sciences
- Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences Program (IBiS)
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Neuroscience (NUIN)
- Physics and Astronomy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Statistics
If training is not completed within above timeframe, charges will be removed from the grant.
Training conducted at outside institutions does not fulfill Northwestern requirements.