Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training
About Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training
In a very broad definition, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is good citizenship practices applied to the research professions that prioritize: honesty (i.e. conveying information truthfully), accuracy in reporting findings precisely and taking active care to avoid errors, efficiency (i.e., using resources wisely and avoiding waste) and objectivity.
Responsible Conduct of Research is essential to good science practice. Engaging in RCR training helps scientists develop into and learn from good research citizens, assuring ethical and appropriate use of investigations to benefit the scientific community. RCR trainings promote the aims of scientific inquiry, foster a research environment that enables scientists to work together toward common goals, and promote public confidence in scientific knowledge and progress for the public good.
The importance of RCR training is to curb fraudulent or socially irresponsible research that ultimately undercuts the public’s trust of and support for science. Areas covered in RCR training help researchers conduct ethical and responsible science. Key topic areas covered in past RCR workshops provided by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies include:
- Data fabrication and falsification of results
- Identifying and addressing harassment in the work environment
- Understanding of credit, authorship, and intellectual property
- Approaching conflicts of interest (COI) such as financial or impaired objectivity
Types of RCR Training
There are two types of RCR training offered through the university for biomedical graduate students and postdoctoral scholars: RCR Core Training (through CITI) and the RCR Training Workshops offered by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Read more about different RCR trainings
1. RCR Core Training
RCR Core Training
The RCR Core Training is a Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) course. University students and employees can use their UMN internet IDs when logging into CITI RCR Core Training. Faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and others serving as principal investigators (PIs) are required to complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Core Training. PIs who have already met the RCR Core requirement do not need to take it again.
Questions about RCR Core Training and institutional requirements may be directed to:
Research Integrity and Compliance
280 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
[email protected]
2. RCR Training Workshops
RCR Training Workshops
The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) conducts monthly RCR Training Workshops to help researchers (including both graduate students and postdoctoral scholars) conduct ethical and responsible science. GPS coordinates these workshops year-round, having both a short session (May - August) and a long session (September - May) to provide didactic lectures, classroom exercises and case study examples in a class-based environment. Topics covered in past workshops include:
- Data fabrication and falsification of results
- Identifying and addressing harassment in the work environment
- Understanding of credit, authorship, and intellectual property
- Approaching conflicts of interest (COI) such as financial or impaired objectivity
Questions about RCR Training Workshops may be directed to:
Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
[email protected]
RCR Training Workshops Schedule: Summer 2026
RCR Training Workshops Schedule Summer '26
**Please note that speaker details on this schedule may be subject to change. Most are finalized.
May 28, 2026 (Thursday): Responsible Authorship, Publication & Peer Review
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: HSEC 2132; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Dr. Scott Dehm | Professor, Apogee Enterprises Professorship in Cancer Research
June 10, 2026 (Wednesday): Research Misconduct and Policies for Handling Misconduct
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Location: HSEC 2-110; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Kaylee Schwertfeger, PhD | Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology
July 20, 2026 (Monday): Policies Regarding Live Vertebrate Animal Subjects
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Location: HSEC 2-110; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: David Largaespada, PhD | Deputy Director, Masonic Cancer Center | Professor, Dept of Pediatrics & Dept of GCBD
August 24, 2026 (Monday): Policies Regarding Human Participants in Research
Time: 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Location: HSEC 2-110; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: David Potter, MD, PhD | Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation | Faculty and Preceptor, Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology (MICaB) Ph.D. Graduate Program | Preceptor, Medical Scientist Training Program (Combined MD/PhD Training Program)
RCR Training Workshops Schedule: Academic Year 2026-2027
RCR Training Workshops Schedule 26-27
**Please note that speaker details on this schedule may be subject to change. Most are finalized.
September 14, 2026: Research Ethics and AI
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Christopher Tignanelli MD MBA MS FACS FAMIA | Associate Dean, University of Minnesota Medical School | Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Minnesota | Co-Director, Center for Quality Outcomes Discovery and Evaluation, University of Minnesota | Scientific Director, Program for Clinical AI, University of Minnesota
October 12, 2026: Workplace Conduct and Creating a Safe Research Environment
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Matt Amundson, DEI Learning & Development Manager
November 9, 2026: Case Studies in Data Management
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Hematology T32 Trainees (TBA)
December 14, 2026: Implicit and Explicit Biases in Research Settings
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Ana Nuñez, MD, FACP | Vice Dean, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine | Integration Strategist, Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI)
January 11, 2027: Case Studies in Mentor/Mentee Relationships
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Endocrinology T32 Trainees (TBA)
February 8, 2026: Pursuing a Career in Academic Medicine: How to Be Supported by a Team in Achieving Success
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Jop van Berlo, Associate Professor of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division & Laura Niedernhofer, Professor, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, & Biophysics
March 15, 2027: Research Misconduct and Policies for Handling Misconduct
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Celeste Sheftel | Research Integrity and Compliance Manager @ UMN
April 12, 2027: Contemporary Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Joel T. Wu, JD, MPH, MA, HEC-C | Clinical Ethics Assistant Professor for UMN Center for Bioethics; Clinical Ethics Lead, M Health Fairview; Co-Chair, Ethics Committee, University of Minnesota Medical Center; Co-Director, Clinical Ethics Consultation Service, University of Minnesota Medical Center
May 10, 2027: Visual Data, Oral, & Poster Presentations
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: VCRC 299; Zoom link available in extenuating circumstances
Facilitated by: Jose Debes, MD | Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and International Medicine
Who should participate in the GPS RCR training workshops?
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) education isn’t just a box-checking exercise—it is a cornerstone of credible, collaborative science. NIH reminds us that instruction should begin early and “recur throughout a scientist’s career,” from the first semester of graduate school through senior faculty roles.
Participation required by NIH (and often by other funders)
- Trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars whose stipend or salary is paid from any NIH training grant, fellowship, career-development award, research-education grant, or dissertation grant (e.g., T-, F-, K-, R25, R36 mechanisms).
- Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers directly supported on these awards.
- Career-development awardees (e.g., K99/R00, KL2) and institutional K12 scholars.
- Anyone with direct, substantive involvement in proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting NIH-funded research—including staff scientists, technicians, visiting fellows, contractors, and special volunteers.
These individuals must complete documented RCR instruction to remain in compliance with their Notice of Award.
Participation strongly encouraged
Even when not strictly mandated, RCR training benefits:
- All graduate students and postdocs preparing to apply for future NIH, NSF, or foundation funding.
- Faculty mentors and research supervisors who shape lab culture and model ethical decision-making.
- Research coordinators, technicians, and administrative staff who handle data, specimens, or regulatory submissions.
- Collaborators and visiting scholars seeking to align with U.S. federal expectations.
Because ethical questions evolve with new methods, disciplines, and career stages, attending our monthly workshops helps every member of the research community stay current and cultivate a culture of integrity. If you'd like to sign up for RCR Training Workshops, please contact our office at [email protected].