Responsible Conduct of Research Training

The UNE Responsible Conduct of Research Training program enables ongoing learning and professional development in the responsible conduct of research and scholarly activity at the university.

About Responsible Conduct of Research Training

Public trust in the integrity and ethical behavior of scholars must be maintained if research is to continue to play its proper role at UNE and in society. In alignment with UNE’s strategic plan to produce focused research and scholarship, UNE policy dictates that all research and scholarly activities be carried out with the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior. 

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is broadly defined as applying best practices in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or reporting research results regardless of the scientific or scholarly discipline. RCR encompasses both the ethical conduct of research and research compliance. The latter is comprised of complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies governing research and scholarly activity. 

Research or scholarly activity that is federally supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Science Foundation (NSF), or USDA-NIFA (USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture) may require individuals to complete a program of education in RCR as a term of the federal grant. Scroll down to view the federal RCR program requirements for NIH, NSF, and USDA‑NIFA. 

Although RCR instruction is not required for everyone, anyone involved with research and scholarly activity at UNE (regardless of funding) is strongly encouraged to participate in any and all aspects of UNE’s RCR training program.

Program Goals

The goals of RCR training are to:

  • Foster and support a culture of integrity in research and scholarly activities at the University of New England among faculty, professional staff, and students.
  • Raise awareness and understanding among the UNE community regarding the ethical and responsible conduct of research and scholarly activity. 
  • Help faculty, professional staff, and students stay current and compliant with federal RCR requirements. 
  • Create a resource base of information and mentors to support the educational and professional development of students, faculty, and professional staff in the ethical conduct of research and scholarly activity. 

UNE RCR Education Program

UNE offers a comprehensive program of RCR education available to all faculty, professional staff, and students. 

Training is offered through a mixture of online Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) RCR modules, access to previously recorded RCR lectures via an on-demand video library, and various in‑person discussion formats (e.g., interactive UNE RCR training seminar, UNE RCR lecture series, UNE coaching/mentoring training, and personal interaction between mentor and mentee).  

Additionally, RCR educational events sponsored by the MaineHealth Institute for Research (MHIR) are available to the UNE community.

Training Topics

  • Animal Care and Use
  • Protection of Human Research Participants
  • Conflict of Interest and Commitment
  • Misconduct in Research and Scholarly Activity
  • Intellectual Property
  • Collaborative Research
  • Export Controls and Foreign Influence
  • Rigor and Reproducibility
  • Data Management including Secure and Ethical Data Use
  • Mentor/Mentee Roles and Responsibilities
  • Peer Review
  • Responsible Authorship and Publication
  • Safe Research Environments
  • Controlled Substances
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Responsible Scientist

Federal RCR Program Requirements

NIH RCR Program Requirements

NIH requires RCR education for all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award (individual or institutional), research education grant, and dissertation research grant. NIH applications require a plan for instruction in the responsible conduct of research. 

NIH RCR Program FAQ

NSF RCR Program Requirements

NSF requires RCR education for all undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior/key personnel supported by an NSF grant. Training plans are not required to be included in proposals submitted to NSF; however, institutions are advised that they are subject to review upon request.

NSF RCR Program FAQ

USDA-NIFA RCR Program Requirements

USDA-NIFA mandates that program directors, faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and any staff participating in research supported by a USDA-NIFA grant must receive responsible and ethical conduct of research education. 

USDA-NIFA RCR Program FAQ

Resources

UNE Resources

UNE Research Support Resources

If your work involves any of the following categories, you may need approval or to contact an office prior to use.

If your work involvesDEA Controlled Substances
You need approval fromEnvironmental and Health Safety
ContactEnvironmental Health and Safety
If your work involvesExport Controls; Sensitive Technology; Foreign Collaborations (including visiting scholars); International Travel; Non-Disclosure or Material Transfer Agreements for Incoming/Outgoing Research Information or Materials
You need approval fromOffice of Sponsored Programs
ContactOffice of Sponsored Programs
If your work involvesIntellectual Property, Corporate Relations, Financial Interests
You need approval fromOffice of Sponsored Programs
ContactOffice of Sponsored Programs
If your work involvesIonizing Radiation, Lasers, Magnetic Resonance, Imaging Devices, Radioactive materials (including Sealed Resources, or X-Ray Machines
You need approval fromUniversity-Wide Radiation Safety (UWSC)
ContactEnvironmental Health and Safety
If your work involvesHazardous Chemicals or Regulated Wastes
You need approval fromEnvironmental and Health Safety
ContactEnvironmental Health and Safety
If your work involvesHuman Subjects
You need approval fromInstitutional Review Board (IRB)
ContactOffice of Research Integrity
If your work involvesProtected Health Information
You need approval fromHIPAA Officer
ContactHIPAA Officer
If your work involvesResearch Misconduct
You need approval fromResearch Integrity Officer (RIO)
ContactRIO
If your work involvesVertebrate Animals
You need approval fromInstitutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
ContactOffice of Research Integrity
If your work involvesYou need approval fromContact
DEA Controlled SubstancesEnvironmental and Health SafetyEnvironmental Health and Safety
Export Controls; Sensitive Technology; Foreign Collaborations (including visiting scholars); International Travel; Non-Disclosure or Material Transfer Agreements for Incoming/Outgoing Research Information or MaterialsOffice of Sponsored ProgramsOffice of Sponsored Programs
Intellectual Property, Corporate Relations, Financial InterestsOffice of Sponsored ProgramsOffice of Sponsored Programs
Ionizing Radiation, Lasers, Magnetic Resonance, Imaging Devices, Radioactive materials (including Sealed Resources, or X-Ray MachinesUniversity-Wide Radiation Safety (UWSC)Environmental Health and Safety
Hazardous Chemicals or Regulated WastesEnvironmental and Health SafetyEnvironmental Health and Safety
Human SubjectsInstitutional Review Board (IRB)Office of Research Integrity
Protected Health InformationHIPAA OfficerHIPAA Officer
Research MisconductResearch Integrity Officer (RIO)RIO
Vertebrate AnimalsInstitutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)Office of Research Integrity

Federal Resources

NIH Requirements

The below notices detail updates to the NIH requirements for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research

NSF Requirements 

The below policies detail NSF requirements for Instruction in the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

USDA-NIFA Requirements

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Research Integrity

Events

02/12
2025
Lecture

Export Control

12:00 pm
Online
Josh Mangin, M.S., RC Training Manager

Contact

Karen Houseknecht, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.

Research Integrity Officer 
Professor and Associate Provost for Research and Scholarship
(207) 602-2872
khouseknecht@yilunjianshe.com

For general inquiries contact the Office of Training in Research at rcr@yilunjianshe.com.