National Science Foundation Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

1. National Science FoundationResponsible Conduct of Research (RCR)

2. Section 7009 of the COMPETES Act Background • Plan for responsible conduct of research training and oversight must be in place. • Impacts students and postdoctoral researchers supported by NSF: • Training must occur within first year of grant or before student or postdoctoral researcher ends his or her involvement on the NSF supported project. • Training must also be completed within 3 months of starting course.

3. Section 7009 of the COMPETES Act Background (cont’d) • RCR training is important to gain public trust. • Effective January 4, 2010 • Required for each new and renewing application: “NSF will require that, at the time of proposal submission to NSF, a proposing institution's Authorized Organizational Representative certify that the institution has a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be supported by NSF to conduct research.” (Federal Register: August 20, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 160)

4. UW’s response • Implementation of RCR training. • UW’s response to the RCR training requirements for students and postdoctoral researchers is implementation of on-line RCR training offered by CMDITR, an RCR training developed by the Chemistry Department here at UW, and CITI, an on-line resource that also offers human subjects training.

5. UW’s response (cont’d) • Central UW implementation contacts • In order for students and postdoctoral researchers to understand why they have to take the training and how to take the training: • the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs in conjunction with the Office of Research put together this presentation to describe the role of UW staff who serve as ongoing contacts for undergraduate students and the questions they will likely encounter. • the Graduate School and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs in conjunction with the Office of Research put together this presentation to describe the role of UW staff who serve as ongoing contacts for undergraduate students and the questions they will likely encounter.

6. UW’s response (cont’d) • Creation of a UW RCR website. • Trainings differ for undergraduate students versus graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. • CMDITR RCR training is a standardized RCR program covering a broad range of disciplines to meet sponsor requirements. The program is accessible to undergraduates with less prior experience in research, and is designed with the goal of teaching important key concepts and providing thoughtful educational feedback to users. • CITI RCR training is a multi-faceted standardized RCR program to meet sponsor requirements and expand the UW’s commitment to provide UW graduate students and post docs with an exceptional academic experience.

7. UW’s response (cont’d) • Short-term vs long-term efforts for RCR training.

8. Responsibilities of contacts • Address user questions on registration, completion, verification process. • Assistance to users in identifying which RCR course users must take.

9. Responsibilities of contacts (cont’d) • Verification of completion: • We encourage either the PI or somebody in a relevant role in the department to accept responsibility of checking website to ensure students have completed course. • Completion results can be obtained by students/postdocs upon completion of respective RCR courses. • In addition, the RCR website will contain this information (service provided by the Office of Research) so that completion results are not only provided in central place but accessible to administrators who may need this information for funding purposes. • Kim will describe how completion results can be verified when she presents on the RCR website.

10. Outreach to UW research community • Readiness training in first half of December. • Email communication has been sent to Deans & Directors & Department Chairs to inform them of preparations and implementation plan. • Email will be sent to all PIs who are supported by NSF first week of January. • Notification will be posted in University Week.

11. CITIRCR Training Registration & Completion Online orientation Sharon Elsayed Assistant Director for Education & Communication, Human Subjects Division

12. Center on Materials and Devices for Information Technology Research (CMDITR)RCR Training Registration & Completion Online orientation Suzy Hunter Webmaster

13. RCR website Kim Blakemore Office of Research

14. Acknowledgements • Office of Research • Office of Postdoctoral Affairs • The Graduate School • Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs • CMDITR RCR staff • Human Subjects Division

15. Handout • Section 7009 of the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science (COMPETES) Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-1) Federal Register • Act effective January 4, 2010 • Central Implementation Contacts: • Thomas Gething, Assistant Vice Provost & Assistant Dean, The Graduate School and Director, Office of Postdoctoral Affairs • Janice DeCosmo, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs • Kim Blakemore, Compliance Analyst, Office of Research • Responsible Conduct of Research UW website http://www.washington.edu/research/main.php?page=rcr