RCR training for Duke faculty and staff engaged in research
Responsible conduct of research (RCR) broadly refers to a code of ethical conduct that researchers should abide by on a daily basis. RCR education strives to promote ongoing discussion and examination of research operating procedures (including experimental design, data analysis, data management), academic and collegial relationships and collaborations, the ethical considerations accompanying studies, and the research culture itself. Making ethical and practical decisions requires practice, periodic reflection, and discussion to learn and experiment with different approaches.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiated the first RCR education requirement in 1989 and this educational initiative has evolved and strengthened over time. Similarly, the National Science Foundation (NSF) initiated an RCR education requirement for all trainees in 2009. The Office of Research Integrity, within the US Department of Health and Human Services, has developed a variety of resources and programs to support responsible conduct of research education. Duke University has implemented our own RCR training requirement for all faculty and staff researchers, overseen by the Advancing Scientific Integrity, Services, and Training (ASIST) team in the Duke Office of Scientific Integrity (DOSI). This requirement covers all faculty and staff researchers, not simply those engaged in human or animal research.
Duke Faculty and Staff RCR Training Requirement
All Duke faculty and staff engaged in research must complete collaborative 200-level RCR training every three years. When initially joining the Duke research community, faculty and staff members must also complete an RCR-100 course within 90 days. Faculty and staff engaged in research will receive automated emails reminders when their RCR course due-dates approach, and may check their RCR training status at any time through the "myPortfolio" or "myTraining" widgets in myRESEARCHhome.
100-level RCR training
RCR-100 courses are designed to ensure that all faculty and staff engaged in research at Duke have a sound foundational understanding of the principle components of research integrity. Covered topics may include research reproducibility, research misconduct, data management, conflicts of interest, and unconscious bias, among others.
Researchers can choose from several available RCR-100 courses. Individuals are encouraged to complete the option which seems most relevant to them and their research. These courses are self-directed, available asynchronously, and can be completed over multiple sessions at the researcher’s convenience.
For more information on the change to the RCR-100 training requirement that went into effect on 6/10/2026, please see the myRESEARCHpath page.
200-level RCR training
RCR-200 courses are designed to engage researchers in open discussion about RCR topics. ASIST strives to host virtual and in-person events covering a variety of topics at a variety of times, including partnering with other offices at Duke. We also welcome groups to participate in a dedicated discussion about the RCR topics with your research unit on the RCR topics most relevant to your group. Details for how to lead an RCR workshop or discussion with your research unit can be found on the page linked below.
RCR Completion Certificate
Researchers needing proof of RCR training for funding proposals or for audit purposes can request an RCR Completion Certificate by completing this survey. Completion certificates include the researcher's name, date of most recent RCR-100 and RCR-200 training completions, and the date through which the certificate is valid.
Compliance with the Duke University RCR training requirement is automatically tracked. Researchers can check their RCR training status at any time through the "myPortfolio" or "myTraining" widgets in myRESEARCHhome. No certification is required.