New Responsible Conduct of Research training standard for Purdue researchers

National survey results indicate that the public is increasingly concerned about the integrity of the scientific process and the robustness of reported results. Purdue is reaffirming its commitment to research integrity and responsible conduct of research by implementing a new Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) standard (S20), effective today (July 1). Training in the responsible conduct of research provides exposure to important current information on critical topics faced by researchers, such as peer review, conflicts of interest, plagiarism, reproducibility of results, and research misconduct.

The RCR training standard applies to faculty, staff, trainees (including postdocs), graduate students and undergraduate students of the University who design and conduct research and/or report and publish research outcomes. It has two components: (1) a core online module, and (2) customized, field-specific discussions, workshops or seminars organized and administered by each college, school or center. Both components are tailored to the career stage of the researcher. Further information about deadlines for completion can be found on Purdue’s new Responsible Conduct of Research website.

Purdue’s Office of Regulatory Affairs staff is ready to assist researchers as they work to complete the new RCR training requirement. Regulatory Affairs has recently developed a new online application for tracking the completion of the first component, the core online module. All researchers at Purdue who have not completed this core training by required deadlines will be notified by the online application to do so.

The RCR standard assigns specific responsibilities for local oversight of the implementation of the second component of RCR training, field-appropriate training, to  each college, school or center. Regulatory Affairs will collaborate with deans, associate/assistant deans for research, regional campus vice chancellors and deans, directors of research centers, the Graduate School, and the Office of Undergraduate Research to (a) identify researchers who are required to complete RCR training, (b) assist in designing and developing career stage- and research field-appropriate training, and (c) monitor completion of RCR training offerings.

Questions about the new RCR standard can be submitted to RCRTraining@purdue.edu.

This standard does not apply to Purdue University Global, as it maintains its own policies and standards.