Boston University Office of Research Compliance
www.bu.edu/orc
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
Description of Boston University’s Advanced RCR Training Program
(Applicable to training for doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers)
Prepared by BU Office of Research Compliance -- September, 2013
Boston University, in partnership with Boston Medical Center, offers the following core Responsible Conduct
of Research (RCR) instructional program on both the Medical Campus and the Charles River Campus:
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Advanced RCR for Graduate Students and Post-doctoral Researchers (offered since 2006)
The Boston University RCR Program maintains a repository of RCR Resources
http://www.bu.edu/orc/programs-committees/rcr/resources/ available to both students and faculty mentors.
1. Format and Content of Core Advanced RCR Program
This program is for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Advanced RCR has two components:
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Advanced RCR-Online Preparation (Completion of Introductory RCR and Intermediate RCR which provide
background on RCR topics) and
Advanced RCR-Live (eight hours - four live discussion workshops, which probe preparatory readings and case
studies in research ethics and responsibility).
The Office of Research Compliance and numerous faculty research mentors, from departments and centers as
diverse as economics, bioinformatics, medicine, engineering, astronomy, applied linguistics, computer science,
earth science, physical therapy, management, social work, education and others, work together to present the
two components.
The program addresses the following topics
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Mentor/Trainee Responsibilities
Data Acquisition, Management, Sharing, and Ownership
Publication Practices and Responsible Authorship
Peer Review
Collaborative Science
Research Misconduct
Conflict of Interest and Conflict of Commitment
Research Ethics and the Scientist in Society
Additional training is required for all students and postdoctoral researchers who will participate in human
subjects research, animal research, or laboratory research, in accordance with the training programs offered
by Boston University in these areas. Information about these programs is available at the Office of Research
Compliance’s website, http://www.bu.edu/orc .
The program provides advice on mentorship and addresses questions of integrity in data management,
collaboration, and publication. Boston University procedures relating to scientific misconduct and conflicts of
interest in research are covered. The online program introduces key RCR topics and provides links to valuable
resources and further online educational materials. The four two-hour workshops are to be completed over not
more than two years and involved small groups of students and postdoctoral researchers in facilitated discussion
of cases set in diverse fields across the sciences and engineering. The fundamental text for the program is On
Being a Scientist, NAS, NAE, IOM, 2009 at: http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309119707 .
Recommended additional readings include modules of an online RCR program presented by the Collaborative
Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) to which Boston University subscribes.
DATA INTEGRITY: On Being a Scientist
This workshop will consider the importance of responsibility in maintaining the research record and handling data
(collecting, recording, selecting, presenting). Various case scenarios will apply professional standards of
responsible science and will articulate why these are important. The importance of the research record to the
institution as well as to the community of science will be noted. Cases will focus on mistakes and negligent
practices that can cause substantial harm to scientific progress and to the trust of colleagues.
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: On Team Membership, Mentoring, and Shared Authorship
This workshop will consider the importance of behavioral skills and awareness for successfully participating in
collaborative research teams. Participants will consider challenges experienced by scientists in seeking to develop
and maintain successful collaborative relationships, including helping to strengthen research teams and resolving
teamwork problems. The workshop will also address the right and obligations of collaborations related to:
allocation of authorship credit, and mentorship. Participants will also look at the processes for resolving an
authorship dispute.
SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION: On Accountability and Peer Review
This workshop will explore the importance of the publication standards in peer reviewed journal, including how
these standards seek to sustain the validity of the scientific literature. Participants will consider the involvement
of scientists in public advocacy. Do scientists have any responsibilities to the general public in relation to lay
misuses or misunderstandings of published results? When, if at all, is public activism and advocacy a responsibility
of a scientist? How can advocacy have benefits or pitfalls for a scientist?”
OBJECTIVITY IN SCIENCE: Regulations on Conflicts of Interest and Research Misconduct
This workshop will explore processes by which U.S. government sponsors seek to regulate “research misconduct”
and “financial conflicts of interest” affecting research and how knowledge of these processes is important for
scientists. As to misconduct, participants will review the definitions of “plagiarism”, “falsification,” and
“fabrication.” Participants will note the roles and responsibilities of sponsors, institutions and scientists in relation
to allegations of misconduct. Participants will discuss both the risks and protections against retaliation for
“whistle-blowing.” As to financial conflicts of interest, participants will note the roles of sponsors, institutions and
investigators related to disclosing financial conflicts of interest, and the risks of failures to disclose.
Each workshop is co-led by the Office of the Provost and volunteer faculty members, as “Mentors.”. Trainees are
seated in small groups for discussion of two case studies. Each group is assigned to include a diversity of fields
and levels (including at least one post doctoral researcher). Groups are given discussion guidelines, and make
reports on their flip charts. Mentors respond to the reports and engage with the large group in clarifying
discussion around key points.
2. Faculty Participation
2.1
Advanced RCR for Doctoral Students and Post-doctoral Researchers
Any faculty member, or post-doctoral fellow recommended by a faculty member, may register to participate as a
Mentor in this program. Mentors receive one hour of training prior to the session in which they will serve. Since
2006, over 300 BU faculty members have participated as discussion facilitators or mentors.
Participation as a Mentor is encouraged as a way to demonstrate continuing education in RCR.
2.2
Responsible Conduct of Research Education Advisory Committee (RCREAC)
The Boston University RCREAC, composed of faculty members serving as liaisons to participating schools and
colleges with the University, assists the Office of Research Compliance to oversee all RCR instructional programs
and to make strategic plans for further RCR activities at the University.
3. Duration of Instruction
The Advanced RCR for Doctoral Students and Post-doctoral Researchers is an advanced program requiring
completion of the online preparatory PowerPoint and quiz, and then at least eight hours of live participation
in four two-hour workshops involving discussion of case studies. For each workshop, approximately one-half
hour of preparatory reading is assigned.
Participating as a Mentor requires two-three hours of service at a single workshop, including Mentor training.
4. Frequency of Instruction
The NIH requires that RCR training be completed for all personnel at least once at every career stage and at a
frequency no less than once every 4 years.
Doctoral students who have previously completed the Advanced RCR for Doctoral Students and Post-doctoral
Researchers, and who are now in their fourth or later years of training, may attend the four workshops a
second time. Given the dynamic and interactive nature of the program, it is suited to provide opportunities for
professional growth and for development of new insights and skills in individuals at a variety of levels.
Alternatively, a department or training program may submit an application for approval of an alternative RCR
program. For more information, contact the Office.
Senior fellows and career award recipients (including F33, K02, K05, and K24 awardees) who have previously
completed or participated in the Advanced RCR for Doctoral Students and Post-doctoral Researchers may
participate as RCR workshop Mentors in future years. Alternatively, a department or training program may
submit an application for approval of an alternative RCR program. For more information, contact the Office.
The formal RCR program will be supplemented on a formal and/or informal basis by faculty in the course of
individual mentoring and group work associated with each institutional award.
For more information about RCR Compliance at BU/BMC, contact:
Office of Research Compliance
Boston University
85 E. Newton Street M840
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, MA 02118
P. 617-414-4741
F. 617-414-4751
rcr@bu.edu
Or visit: http://www.bu.edu/orc/rcr