Responsible Conduct of Research

Objectives of RCR Training

Encourage best practices in the conduct of research and scientific investigations.
Foster the ability to recognize ethical choices and the ability to make principled decisions.
Provides an environment for open discussion about potential conflicts and strategies for resolution.
Sensitize the university research community to the wide range of ethical and professional issues that must be considered to ensure a climate of research integrity.
Help faculty, staff, students, post-docs and visitors stay current with Federal RCR requirements.
Provide context for how RCR topics apply to a variety of research fields.
Provide a central location for RCR information, training, and case studies for use across campus.
Foster a culture of responsible and ethical research conduct throughout the University.

The Office of Research Integrity and Compliance (ORIC) in the Office of the Vice President of Research (OVPR) administers the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Certification Program. The UNM RCR program requirements satisfy guidance 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 maintaining the integrity fundamental to scientific research through the responsible and ethical conduct of its faculty, staff and students. RCR instruction is essential to producing the best scientists and researchers. To further this commitment, UNM has implemented an institutional Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for RCR Certificationso that all of the UNM research community can benefit from RCR training.

Requests

Do You Teach RCR Material?

Request For Certification of Training Course or Class

Please contact us at ResearchConduct@unm.edu to discuss your request, in the email please include your course/class syllabus, training materials and anything to show the material you cover.

Have you gotten RCR Training Outside UNM?

Request For Certification of Previous Training

Have you taken Responsible (Ethical) Conduct of Research training at a different institution and are interested in finding out if it meets the UNM qualification for RCR training? Please fill out the following form rcr-certification/certification-request.pdf and email the completed form (with any and all supporting documentation) to ResearchConduct@unm.edu

Who is required to complete the training?

All UNM students (graduate and undergraduate), postdoctorals, faculty and staff that are doing research at UNM, or in connection with UNM.
Trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving NIH support through training, career development award, research education grant, or dissertation research grant.
Faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers and undergraduate students receiving NSF support or participating in an NSF-funded project.
Faculty, program directors, graduate students, postdoctoral research, undergraduate students and any staff receiving USDA/NIFA support.

How do I obtain RCR training certification?

- UNM RCR Certificate program is designed to meet the requirements of all federal funding agencies:
  - The National Science Foundation
  - The National Institute of Health
  - Over 20 other federal funding agencies.
- Find your path to RCR certification through
  - Symposia this all-day event will cover all the required topics at once
  - Workshops are 1- or 2- hour topic focused sessions
  - Request training for your group
- Review the UNM Plan for Certification.
  - Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for RCR Certification