Center for Biology+Society
Center for Biology+Society

responsible conduct of research

The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) program engages ethical dilemmas in the practice of the life sciences through teaching and research. For graduate students in the life sciences, the program offers one-credit courses through which students can explore ethical issues of their chosen field and meet ethics training requirements. Graduate students in Biology and Society may also take these courses. For them, the courses introduce the scholarly literature on research ethics in the life sciences and compliment offerings in bioethics and environmental ethics. Program participants also conduct research on research ethics and engage the broader campus community.

Course characteristics

  • Engage the broad topics in research ethics through the specific experiences of conducting research in the life sciences
  • Examine ethical questions for scientists both as individuals and as participants in the larger scientific enterprise
  • Provide students a systematic grounding in the ethical norms and regulatory requirements of conducting research
  • Challenge students to apply knowledge and improve ethical reasoning skills
  • Attract students in biology, molecular and cellular biology, neuroscience, plant biology, microbiology, bioengineering, biochemistry, psychology, sustainability, and the School of Human Evolution and Social Change
  • Capitalize on ASU’s flexible scheduling option to accommodate students’ busy schedules
  • Meet NIH and NSF RCR training requirements

Introduction to Research Ethics

  • One credit
  • Meets once a week for 75 minutes for 10 weeks

This course introduces the ethical and regulatory issues in the nine core areas of responsible conduct of research, as defined by the National Institutes of Health. The areas are:

  • Animal welfare
  • Collaborative science
  • Conflict of interest and commitment
  • Data acquisition, management, sharing and ownership
  • Human subjects
  • Mentor/trainee responsibilities
  • Peer review
  • Publication practices and responsible authorship
  • Research misconduct

Current Topics Courses

  • One credit
  • Meet once a week for 3 hours for five weeks

These courses provide students the opportunity to explore a single topic in the responsible conduct of research in depth. Courses offered change depending on current issues in responsible conduct of research as well as the interests of the instructor and students. Currently offered:

  • Authorship
  • University-Industry Relationships and Conflicts of Interest
  • Human Subjects Research
  • Research with Animal Subjects