Responsible Conduct of Research

The responsible conduct of research (RCR) is essential to good science. RCR promotes the aims of scientific inquiry, fosters a research environment that enables scientists to work together toward common goals and promotes public confidence in scientific knowledge and progress for the public good. However, there are several serious detrimental effects of research not being conducted ethically and responsibly. These include, for example, data fabrication and falsification of results which undermine the pursuit of valid knowledge by misleading scientists to accept and further study false hypotheses or unreliable data. Likewise, plagiarism and harassment negatively impact the research environment by harming respect and trust among scientists. Fraudulent or socially irresponsible research undercuts the public’s trust in and support for science.

For more than a decade, the National Institutes of Health made training in RCR for students supported by training grants and individual fellowships a requirement. The National Science Foundation implemented a similar requirement, effective January 4, 2010, following Section 7009 of the “America Competes” Act. The USDA/NIFA was initially effective on their Research Terms and Conditions issued in February 2013.

The in-person Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) course is open to all Northeastern faculty and students. The RCR course is offered in Boston twice a year, beginning in January and August. The course is approximately eight hours long, with significant researcher facilitation and administrative support, and uses discussions and case studies to examine basic ethical and regulatory requirements for conducting research. RCR is a highly recommended “best practices” course for those desiring to deepen their knowledge of ethical research and responsible conduct. It is also an excellent professional opportunity for anyone interested in furthering a career in research. This course fulfills the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) requirements for formal RCR instruction. Topics covered include research misconduct; responsible authorship and publication; mentor-mentee relationships; lab safety; conflicts of interest; peer review; data acquisition and management; stewardship; sexual harassment, diversity, and inclusion; and working with institutional regulatory bodies (i.e., IRB, IACUC, and IBC).

The University plan requires that all federally funded students and post-doctoral researchers receive RCR training. Northeastern has crafted an RCR program that is designed to enhance participant experiences by offering practical, real-world guidance and training. The course includes significant researcher facilitation and administrative support and uses discussions and case studies to examine basic ethical and regulatory requirements for conducting research. In some circumstances, online modules supported by the University are an appropriate and sufficient training platform.

Principal Investigator(s) will be responsible for assuring that all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars who are supported longer than six months by their NIH projects, including subawards, complete Responsible Conduct of Research face-to-face instruction. Where applicable trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars who are supported longer than six months by their NIH projects, including sub-awards, must complete 8 hours of in-person RCR training within 12 months of receiving NIH support.

Additionally, any undergraduate, graduate, or fellow funded under an NSF award may complete this course in lieu of or in addition to the online course. Other students or faculty who wish to participate are always welcome to join us.

All researchers at Northeastern, are defined as persons who are responsible for the design, conduct, and reporting of research. It includes the following categories of employees and students:

• Faculty, trainees, and staff who design and conduct research and/or report and publish research outcomes.
• Graduate students who are enrolled in a Ph.D. or master’s program with a research thesis or component, and
• Undergraduate students involved in a research project or conducting student-initiated research

Engineering students may elect to complete Professor Abigail Koppes’ Research Ethics Course (CHME 5185) in lieu of the RCR training described on this page. All the required topics are covered in CHME 5185.

RCR Decision Tree

The course is approximately eight hours long, with significant researcher facilitation and administrative support, and uses discussions and case studies to examine basic ethical and regulatory requirements for conducting research. Course requirements include attendance at 7 workshop sessions, participation in class discussions, and a capstone presentation. A certificate will be issued to all participants upon successful course completion. In some circumstances, online modules supported by the University are an appropriate and sufficient training platform. In other cases, portions of online training modules may be utilized as a resource for the regular courses. To facilitate training and compliance, the University subscribes to the online CITI training program for use in RCR training.

In some circumstances, students and post-doctoral researchers may present documentary evidence (e.g., certificate of completion or copy of an undergraduate or graduate transcript showing successful completion of an RCR course within the last 4 years), for review and approval by the relevant office to demonstrate satisfactory RCR training in fulfillment of the University requirement.

Why do seasoned researchers have to take RCR training?

Seasoned researchers (even those who do not believe that they have ever experienced RCR problems) can continue to contribute to Northeastern’s robust climate of research integrity by (1) taking the training themselves, (2) promoting Northeastern’s RCR training standards to all those in their labs, and (3) encouraging ongoing, open conversations about RCR as a regular and critical part of the research process.

All trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and/or dissertation research grant must receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research. This NIH policy took effect with all new and renewal applications submitted on or after January 25, 2010, and for all continuation applications with deadlines on or after January 1, 2011.

The requirement applies to the following programs: D43, D71, F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2, R25, R36, T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, and U2R. This policy also applies to any other NIH-funded programs supporting research training, career development, or research education that require instruction in responsible conduct of research as stated in the relevant funding opportunity announcements.

Additional information and guidance can be found at NIH OER Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research

Discussion-based instruction in the responsible conduct of research is expected to remain a key feature of RCR training and to include substantive face-to-face interaction among participants and faculty. However, recognizing that advances in video conferencing now allow for effective “face-to-face” discussions to occur electronically, video conferencing options are incorporated into Northeastern’s RCR instruction. At the same time, video conferencing should not be the sole means for meeting the requirement for RCR instruction, and course design that employs only video conferencing is not considered acceptable, except in the circumstances described in NOT-OD-10-019, such as short-term research training and research education programs.

NU-RES will work with the colleges to confirm those NIH Trainees and Fellows who must complete Certification to satisfy applicable grant conditions. NU-RES will notify any such Trainees and Fellows of the next available RCR instruction courses and priority seats will be given to such Trainees and Fellows.

All undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who are supported by NSF financial assistance awards to conduct research on research grants submitted after January 4, 2010, are required to comply with the NSF training policy. Conference, symposium, workshop, and travel awards are exempt from this requirement.

Additional information and guidance can be found at NSF – Responsible Conduct of Research

The NSF allows for in-person training or CITI training to complete the RCR requirement. Students paid by NSF awards can elect to attend one or more in-person workshops or take the CITI online training to satisfy the requirement.

All undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers receiving support through any USDA-NIFA award must receive instruction in the responsible conduct of research.

Additional information and guidance can be found at USDA-NIFA – Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

The USDA/NIFA allows for in-person training or CITI training to complete the RCR requirement. Students paid by USDA/NIFA awards can elect to attend one or more in-person workshops or take the CITI online training to satisfy the requirement.

Once you have completed your online training within CITI, your training records will be automatically downloaded so that Northeastern will know that you’ve completed this component of the requirement.

Individual researchers are in the best position to provide updates regarding their own field-specific training. Researchers should provide updates towards the completion of 7 RCR sessions to the Associate Director for Training and Learning to qualify for the Capstone session and receive a certificate of completion.

All students, faculty, and staff who complete any format of RCR training should keep a copy of their Certificate of Completion for their records. When RCR training is required by the grant, it is a best practice for the PI/college to maintain copies of the certificates for any students paid from applicable NIH, NSF, and USDA-NIFA grants.