The Office of Graduate Studies and the Office of Research Responsibility are excited to announce a new on-line training program in UNL’s Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) toolbox, being released later this month.

The training covers subjects that apply to all students and post-doctoral researchers like mentor and trainee roles, authorship and collaboration. It’s not meant to replace any existing training but rather to provide all mentored researchers with the baseline knowledge they need to continue the study and practice of RCR. The training is offered completely on Blackboard (listed as GRDC 098) and can be completed in about an hour.

All undergraduate researchers, graduate students and post-docs in academic units eligible for NSF funding are required to complete this new training (for a list of the colleges/department affected see below). Students and post-docs working in these colleges/departments will be automatically enrolled in GRDC 098. The GRDC 098 course will appear in the student’s Blackboard course list. Training should be completed by Nov. 1, 2010 and each student will receive a certificate once the course is completed.

Note: As of Jan. 1, 2010, NSF requires didactic training in the responsible conduct of research for all graduate, post-doctoral and undergraduate students involved in research. (See the January 2010 NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, specifically Part I - Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter II.C.1e and Part II - Award and Administration Guide, Chapter IV.B). When UNL submits grant applications and accepts awards, it is required to certify that students will receive RCR training in compliance with this federal requirement. Thanks for your help with this project. KAE