Please Note: This page is specific to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. RCR requirements and timelines for faculty and research staff may be different.
-
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training prepares researchers to conduct research responsibly, ethically, and in accordance with institutional and sponsor requirements.
UAB requires RCR training for all Master’s Plan I and doctoral students as well as other members of the research community. Training requirements may vary based on an individual's academic program, role in research, career stage, funding source, or sponsor requirements.
Important: Funding agencies and individual awards may impose RCR requirements beyond UAB's institutional requirements. When sponsor or award requirements are more stringent, those requirements apply.
-
Who Is Required to Complete RCR Training?
Post-doctoral scholars, Doctoral, and Master’s Plan I students are required to complete the UAB RCR training pathway. All graduate students are encouraged to complete RCR training.
-
RCR Training Requirements
UAB's RCR training combines online instruction with instructor-led, discussion-based learning.
- GREEN BADGE — CITI RCR Training (synchronous)
- GOLD BADGE — UAB RCR Online Training (synchronous)
- FIRE BADGE — 3 Required Topics Instructor-Led RCR Training (asynchronous)
- BLAZER BADGE — 5 Elective Topics Instructor-Led RCR Training (asynchronous)
-
When Should I Complete the Training?
Students who have already completed GRD 717 within the past 4 years should not repeat training unless required by their program or mentor.
Under the current institutional plan, completion of GRD 717 remains compliant with the UAB core RCR requirement until that completion reaches four years of age. Specific continued-training requirements apply thereafter.
Post-doctoral scholars should complete through the Fire badge within their first year of appointment.
-
Maintaining Your RCR Training
RCR training is an ongoing professional responsibility. Students are required to maintain eight credited instructor-led hours that are less than four years old, subject to any more stringent sponsor-specific requirements.
-
What About GRD 717?
Post-doctoral scholars and students who have already completed GRD 717 within the past 4 years should not repeat training unless required by their program or mentor.
Under the current institutional plan, completion of GRD 717 remains compliant with the UAB core RCR requirement until that completion reaches four years of age. Specific continued-training requirements apply thereafter.
-
Can My Program's RCR Course Count?
Programs may continue to offer discipline-specific RCR courses as valuable complementary training. However, discipline-specific courses do not replace UAB's institutional RCR requirements. They may qualify as supplemental education.
-
Additional Training Requirements
RCR training is separate from other compliance training that may be required because of an individual's research activities.
Depending on the research being conducted, additional requirements may apply in areas such as:
- human participants research;
- animal research;
- biosafety;
- research security;
- export control;
- conflicts of interest; and
- other regulated research activities.
These specialized requirements generally operate in addition to, rather than as substitutes for, the RCR pathway.
-
Accessing Your Training
Assigned online RCR training is accessed through the UAB Campus Learning System.
To complete your requirements:
- Access the UAB Campus Learning System.
- Complete your assigned RCR training components.
- Register for approved instructor-led RCR sessions as needed.
- Monitor your training record and complete additional or renewal training when assigned.
-
Questions?
Questions about RCR requirements or whether training applies to you:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Questions about graduate program requirements: Contact your graduate program.
Technical assistance with the UAB Campus Learning System:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Questions about sponsor-specific requirements:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.