Responsible Conduct of Research
Objectives of RCR Training
Promote best practices in the conduct of research and scientific investigations.
Strengthen researchers’ ability to recognize ethical dilemmas and make principled decisions.
Provide a forum for open discussion about potential conflicts and effective strategies for resolution.
Increase awareness of the wide range of ethical and professional issues that shape a climate of research integrity.
Ensure faculty, staff, students, postdocs, and visitors remain current with federal RCR requirements.
Demonstrate how RCR principles apply across diverse research fields and disciplines.
Serve as a central resource for RCR information, training, and case studies accessible to the entire campus community.
Foster a strong culture of responsible and ethical research conduct throughout the University.
The Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC), under the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), administers the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Certification Program at UNM. This program fully satisfies the requirements set forth by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
UNM is committed to upholding the integrity fundamental to scientific research through the responsible and ethical conduct of its faculty, staff, and students. RCR instruction is recognized as essential to developing outstanding scientists and researchers. To further this commitment, UNM has implemented a university-wide Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for RCR Certification ensuring that all members of the research community benefit from comprehensive, compliant, and meaningful RCR training.
Do you teach RCR material?
Request for Certification of Training Course or Class
Instructors who teach RCR-related content can request certification of their course for UNM RCR credit. Email ResearchConduct@unm.edu with:
Your course/class syllabus
Training materials (slides, readings, activities)
Any documentation that shows the topics covered and how they’re taught
Have RCR training from outside UNM?
Request for Certification of Previous Training
If you completed Responsible (Ethical) Conduct of Research training at another institution and want to see if it meets UNM’s requirements, please complete the form rcr-certification/certification-request.pdf and email the form—with all supporting documentation—to ResearchConduct@unm.edu
These requests are reviewed against UNM’s RCR Certification SOP and federal sponsor expectations to confirm equivalency and compliance.
Who is required to complete the training?
The following groups are required to complete Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training at UNM:
All UNM researchers — including graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty, and staff conducting research at or in connection with UNM.
NIH-supported individuals — trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through NIH training grants, career development awards, research education grants, or dissertation research grants.
NSF-supported researchers — faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and undergraduate students receiving NSF support or participating in NSF-funded projects.
USDA/NIFA-supported personnel — faculty, program directors, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, undergraduate students, and any staff receiving USDA/NIFA funding.
In addition, all individuals previously certified in RCR must renew their training every four years to remain compliant with federal requirements.
How do I obtain RCR training certification?
The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training program, provided by the Office of Research Integrity & Compliance (ORIC) and the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), is designed to fully meet the requirements of all federal funding agencies, including:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture / National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA/NIFA)
And more than 20 other federal funding agencies
UNM offers multiple training pathways to meet the needs of researchers across disciplines:
Symposia – immersive, all-day events covering all required RCR topics at once.
Workshops – focused 1- to 2-hour sessions on specific RCR topics.
Custom Sessions – group-specific training available upon request
The UNM Plan for Certification and the official Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for RCR Certification, outline the institutional process for compliance.
