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Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training Program

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Description

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) CITI training is mandated for undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and faculty whose projects receive funding from federal agencies. Depending on your school affiliation, career stage, and type of funding, you may be required to complete online and/or in-person RCR training. 

Projects funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) are mandated and have specific requirements regarding training in RCR.  

Depending on your school affiliation, career stage and type of funding, you may be required to complete an on-line RCR course offered by Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI), as well as participate in other program-specific types of training. You should always consult your mentor for specific training requirements.

Instructional Components of an RCR Training Program

  • Research Misconduct
  • Protection of Human Subjects
  • Animal Welfare
  • Contemporary Ethical Issues in Science
  • Conflict of Interest and Commitment
  • Peer Review
  • Data Acquisition, Sharing, and Ownership
  • Collaborative Research
  • Publications Practice and Responsible Authorship
  • Mentor and Trainee Relationships

Contacts for additional guidance:

Biomedical Graduate Students (BGS)

Colleen Dunn, Curriculum Coordinator: dunncoll@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Biomedical Postdoctoral Program Affiliates (BPP)

Donna Crawley, BPP Academic Programs Coordinator: dcrawley@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

SEAS Graduate Students

Alyse Edwards, Director, Graduate Programs: aedwards@seas.upenn.edu

SEAS Postdocs

Office of the Associate Dean for Research: adro@seas.upenn.edu

SAS Graduate Students

Janel Baselice, Faculty Affairs Manager: janelm@sas.upenn.edu