RCR Training for Researchers

Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech requires all research personnel hired as of August 1, 2012 be trained in the principles of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).  This training must be completed in two phases, via completion of on-line CITI modules within 60 days of employment, and via “in-person training” during the first fall semester at Georgia Tech.

Phase 1: Complete the on-line CITI modules within 60 days of starting at Georgia Tech as a researcher.  Print and maintain a copy of your completion certificate in the event your name does not appear in the Institute’s CITI report.  Please reference the CITI Login and Registration Reference Guide to ensure that the Georgia Tech Compliance office receives your test scores.

Phase 2:  Attend lectures designated “RCR” in ChBE 6003 and ChBE 8801 which are offered only during fall semester. You will need to attend a minimum of 3 RCR lectures in ChBE6003 and 8 lectures in ChBE8801.  If you miss any of the eleven lectures designated “RCR” in either course, the course content must be made up by the end of February with your advisor.  Your advisor will certify to the school’s compliance committee that the missed information has been addressed.  No more than two lectures can be missed.

NOTE:  Absence from more than two required lectures will require retaking the entire course sequence. Failure to comply may result in termination of salary payments.

The RCR coverage areas for “in-person” training are:

  1. Conflict of interest – personal, professional, and financial
  2. Policies regarding research with human subjects, vertebrate animals used in laboratory research, and biological, chemical and radiation safety.
  3. Mentor/mentee responsibilities and relationships
  4. Collaborative research including collaborations with industry
  5. Peer review
  6. Data acquisition and laboratory tools; data management, sharing and ownership
  7. Research misconduct and policies for handling misconduct
  8. Responsible authorship and publication
  9. The scientist as a responsible member of society, contemporary ethical issues in biomedical research, and the environmental and societal impacts of scientific research

By attending all the lectures recommended in ChBE 6003 and 8801, you will have completed the research requirements for RCR training. Possible alternatives to in-person ChBE RCR training (ChBE 6003, ChBE 8801) include OSP online webinars, institute approved RCR courses, and video-taped lectures. These alternatives may not be used by graduate students to fulfill in-person training requirements. Alternative training must be approved by the ChBE RCR compliance committee.

The Institute’s RCR policy may be found at www.rcr.gatech.edu.