Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

Ensuring that research is done responsibly and ethically has become a critical aspect of our scientific development. The NIH, NSF and other funding agencies often require postdocs to prove that they are actively educating themselves about Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR).

There are two main venues where you can receive education and credit for RCR training at UT:

• The Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) provides a yearly, one-day course covering all topics suggested by major funding agencies. It typically occurs early in the spring semester, and can be found through TXClass by searching for course RR 100.
• The CNS Postdoctoral Association often includes RCR topics in its monthly seminar series. Upcoming seminars can be found here. Contact Anne Tibbetts if you need proof of your participation.

The most recent CNS Responsible Conduct of Research session was a presentation/discussion on plagiarism. Dr. Sara Saylor from the University Writing Center gave the Avoiding Plagiarism presentation, and also provided a resources handout:

Most of us often have other experiences that can also contribute to your RCR training, though it is on you to present these to your funding agencies. Here are some examples:

• Mentoring undergraduates
• IRB or IACUC training
• Online RCR training provided by scientific societies