Welcome to the FALCON Lab! Below are some important steps to take when getting started. Please follow the instructions. If you are having trouble, please ask another graduate student or Mike. Some sections may not apply to you, but all incoming lab members will need to complete the first 4 sections.
1. Training + Conflicts of Interest
- Complete the Social/Behavioral Researchers course of the CITI Human Subjects Research Training, with detailed instructions here: https://research.utexas.edu/ors/human-subjects/training/
- FID COLLECTION PROCESS IS CHANGING IN JUNE 2022, STAY TUNED FOR AN UPDATE
- Please upload copies of your CITI training certificate and (whatever FID ends up looking like) to the UTBox "Falcon_Lab" Folder under "/Training/CitiTraining."
I already have CITI training from another University:
Please contact the lab manager and send them a copy of your training certificate. They will then email this information to the University's Office of Research Support and Compliance to see if we can accept those credentials. If rejected, you may be asked to complete the training again.
2. Requesting Access to Secure Files and Pages
Once you have completed the Human Subjects Research Training and informed the lab manager, you will be given access to the following:
- Michael Freedberg's Wiki (if you can read this, you have already been granted access)
- The SMNP+FALCON Lab Scheduler in Google Calendars
- FALCON Lab Box - where we store and archive files
- FALCON Lab Slack - where we communicate
3. Picture for the Website
Once you've been trained, but sure to send a photo of yourself to Mike so that we can add you to the website!
See http://sites.edb.utexas.edu/falcon-lab/ for examples.
If you are an RA, please let Mike know your year in school and major(s)
If you are a graduate student or postdoc, please share your alma maters and a short blurb about your research goals with the lab manager
4. For all lab members involved in fMRI studies
After you have completed the Human Subjects Research Training, and have been successfully added to the Lab's IRB, you will need to receive a certification of Level 1 and/or Level 2 training from BIC prior to any scanning. If you have extensive scanning experience (several years), and have been certified at another institution, please contact Mike to discuss options for expediting your certification process through the University of Texas. If you have limited scanning experience, or this will be your first time working in a lab that utilizes fMRI, training for level one researchers includes the following:
- Sign up for a Level 1 training class (UT EID required) on UTLearn. Search for class OH310. At the time of writing, courses are virtual due to the pandemic.
- After completing your UTLearn course, talk to the lab manager about the in-person portion of
- The Level 1 training class focuses on MRI-related hazards and protocols; briefing on and demonstrated understanding of procedures to screen subjects for MRI procedures and administer IRB-approved consent forms; briefing on and demonstrated understanding of emergency procedures, such as fire and handling medical emergencies.
If you have any further questions about the BIC or related procedures, here is a link to the BIC's Wiki page: https://wikis.utexas.edu/display/IRC
5. What if I don't have a UTEID?
Every student who attends UT gets a UTEID, which is typically your initials and a string of numbers, to access and use different UT resources. If you do not have a UT EID, you can set up a guest one here: https://idmanager.its.utexas.edu/eid_self_help/?geid=. You will then be able to activate and use this UT EID if approved and will need this information to set up a 0% appointment.
7. 0% Time Appointment Forms for Undergrad RAs and Research Interns
If you are not a current student of the University of Texas and working with the lab, you will need a 0% appointment to access UTBox and other important University resources that the lab uses. Please inform Mike and he will set this appointment up for you.