Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

RCR training available through the Office of Research Compliance

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training is a program required by the National Science Foundation in response to federal guidelines for ensuring responsible and ethical conduct of research. RCR training is required for students and postdoctoral employees who receive support from the National Science Foundation.  As the Foundation’s website states, “the responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR) is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and engineering”*. Other granting agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health, may also require RCR training for students and postdoctoral employees receiving support. As part of the Building Strength Initiative, BGSU has developed and implemented a plan for delivering RCR training. 

* http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/rcr.jsp

This plan requires:

1. All students and postdoctoral employees receiving support from a granting agency which requires RCR training must complete an online RCR training course hosted by CITI. 
2. All incoming graduate students from Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Geology, Mathematics & Statistics, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, and Sociology must complete the online RCR training course.   
3. All incoming graduate students who have accepted a Research Assistant appointment must complete the online RCR training course and participate in an in-person RCR training workshop during GSO. 

Online Training

The online training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) at http://www.citiprogram.org.  Graduate students who will begin their studies at BGSU in August, 2012 must complete this training by August 10, 2012.  Click here for instructions.     

In-person Training

The in-person training will take place during the Graduate Student Orientation week in August, 2012.  This training session will build upon the online training session by providing additional information about three of the RCR training topics.  This is a mandatory session for all Research Assistants. 

Who can I contact if I have a question about RCR Training?