Responsible Conduct of Research
SIUE researchers are expected to conduct themselves professionally and ethically. They are expected to follow best practices in their conduct of research to ensure accurate, honest and reproducible results.
Federal regulations require institutions receiving federal funds to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research for undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. The Graduate School oversees the implementation of SIUE's Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training and Individual Development Plan (IDP) Policy.
SIUE Responsible Conduct of Research Training and Individual Development Plan Policy
All researchers (including but not limited to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and postdoctoral researchers) are expected to practice research integrity, abiding by established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of their scholarly activities.
Students and postdoctoral researchers who are paid by internal or external research grants (not including URCA Associates or Assistants) will complete Graduate School approved responsible conduct of research (RCR) training and certification. The Graduate School will retain documentation related to this training.
When individuals are supported from an external sponsor, they must comply with all RCR requirements of that sponsor. The project director or principal investigator is responsible for ensuring completion of all requirements and maintenance of relevant records and is responsible for providing documentation when requested, such as for internal and external audits.
Per the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) “Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research,” each recipient of an applicable NIH grant will develop with their mentees a plan to meet the required contact hours of instruction. This plan must be filed in the Graduate School.
SIUE encourages the career and personal development of its students and postdoctoral researchers working on scholarly activities. An individual development plan (IDP) is a tool to assist students and postdoctoral researchers in reaching short- and long-term goals. SIUE encourages the use of IDPs even when not required by the funding sponsor. SIUE requires IDPs when required by the funding sponsor. SIUE encourages mentors to work with their students and postdoctoral researchers to complete and implement IDPs.
Approved November 17, 2022
Other Relevant SIUE Policies
Guidance on Specific Sponsor Requirements
See the links below to the agency pages and the SIUE compliance education page. Also use SIUE's RCR Resources.
Who: Undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel supported, regardless if paid, on research awards
What: General RCR for everyone. For non-students, also mentor training and mentorship. IDPs for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers receiving substantial support from an award.
Note that there are special requirements for the following award types: 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.
Who: All researchers supported
What: At least eight hours of in-person or videoconferencing training every four years in 11 subject areas with substantive face-to-face interaction among participants and faculty
Who: Anyone supported by a USDA NIFA award
What: Authorship and plagiarism, data and research integration, and reporting misconduct
