Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training

National Science Foundation (NSF) and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) RCR Training

RCR training is required under the America COMPETES (America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science) Act. Additionally, in response to the CHIPS and Science ACT of 2022, the National Science Foundation has amended their grants policies. For all NSF proposals submitted after July 23, 2023, Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR formerly RCR) training is mandated for all undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel.

This new mandate replaces the existing RCR policy and expands the training requirement to faculty and other senior personnel. Additionally, the new requirement mandates that the RCR training also covers mentor training and mentorship.

What do you need to know?

  • Berkeley has a membership with CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative) that offers basic RCR training which includes a mentorship module. The mentorship module was updated by CITI on July 1, 2023.
  • The CITI RCR Training should be completed at least every four years by all staff and trainees that are actively supported by an NSF grant—including faculty and staff.
  • RAC is monitoring compliance with this requirement. Failure to complete this requirement will jeopardize the University accepting future NSF sponsored research awards.

What do you need to do?

Recommended National Academies Reports on Mentoring:

Additional Resources for Mentorship Training and Learning:

National Institutes of Health (NIH) RCR Training

On November 24, 2009, the National Institutes of Health updated its policy for instruction of trainees in the Responsible Conduct of Research. The updated policy states:
“NIH requires that 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 must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research. This policy will take effect with all new and renewal applications submitted on or after January 25, 2010, and for all continuation (Type 5) applications with deadlines on or after January 1, 2011. This Notice applies to the following programs: D43, D71, F05, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F37, F38, K01, K02, K05, K07, K08, K12, K18, K22, K23, K24, K25, K26, K30, K99/R00, KL1, KL2, R25, R36, T15, T32, T34, T35, T36, T37, T90/R90, TL1, TU2, and U2R. This policy also applies to any other NIH-funded programs supporting research training, career development, or research education that require instruction in responsible conduct of research as stated in the relevant funding opportunity announcements.”

The NIH Guide Notice Update on the Requirement for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research provides additional information.

NIH RCR Training at UC Berkeley

Online training alone is not acceptable to NIH.

Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, and Postdoctoral Scholars

Classroom Training in RCR at UC Berkeley - On campus face-to-face training courses offered by UC Berkeley.

Principal Investigators

Training faculty and sponsors/mentors are highly encouraged to contribute both to formal and informal instruction in responsible conduct of research. Informal instruction occurs in the course of laboratory interactions and in other informal situations throughout the year. Training faculty may contribute to formal instruction in responsible conduct of research as discussion leaders, speakers, lecturers, and/or course directors. If you are interested in participating in the Classroom RCR course on campus, please contact Victoria (Tori) Sharma at rcr@berkeley.edu.

Investigator Certification

NIH policy requires participation in and successful completion of instruction in responsible conduct of research by individuals supported by any NIH training/research education/fellowship/career award. It is expected that course attendance is monitored and that a certificate or documentation of participation is available upon course completion. NIH does not require certification of compliance or submission of documentation, but expects institutions to maintain records sufficient to demonstrate that NIH-supported trainees, fellows, and scholars have received the required instruction.

Implementation of USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) RCR Requirement

The responsible and ethical conduct of research (RCR) is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and engineering. Consequently, education in RCR is considered essential in the preparation of future scientists. By accepting a NIFA award the grantee assures that program directors, faculty, undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and any staff participating in the research project receive appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research and that documentation of such training will be maintained. Grantees are advised that the documentation of the training are subject to NIFA review upon request.

NIFA RCR Training at UC Berkeley

Online Option: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)

  • Please note: As of June 6, 2016, all learners should use the “Log in via SSO” option for all CITI training.
  • Your login credentials will be your Calnet User ID and Password.
  • For learners who already have a CITI account, all previous information including planned and completed training will be combined under the new Calnet account. You may need to enter your login information from your previous CITI account, so please have it available.
  • If you have any questions or experience any difficulty with this process, please contact us at rcr@berkeley.edu.
  • Research project staff should choose the most appropriate RCR online modules to complete. Students and post docs who may have used the CITI site for their human or animal subjects training will be able to use their existing username and password to access the site and add the RCR course to their “grade book.”

Classroom Option: Classroom Training in RCR at UC Berkeley
On campus face-to-face training courses offered by UC Berkeley.

For more information on the RCR requirements contact:

Brian Warshawsky, Director of Research Ethics and Compliance at bwar@berkeley.edu

Related information