Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
Page 4 of 7
Rev.1.2014.TYu
SECTION E: Certifications (continued)
7. Responsible Conduct of Research (if applicable):
The prime sponsor of this project is:
National Science Foundation
• Statutory Requirement: The Director shall require that each institution that applies for financial assistance
from the Foundation for science and engineering research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to
provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to
undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed
research project.
• Certification Regarding Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR): The AOR is required to complete a
certification that the institution has a plan to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and
ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who will be
supported by NSF to conduct research. Additional information on NSF's Responsible Conduct of Research
(RCR) policy is available in the Award and Administration Guide (AAG), Chapter IV.B.
• Institutional Responsibilities:
A. An institution must have a plan in place to provide appropriate training and oversight in the responsible
and ethical conduct of research to undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers who
will be supported by NSF to conduct research. As noted in NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Chapter
II.C.1e, institutional certification to this effect is required for each proposal.
B. While training plans are not required to be included in proposals submitted to NSF, institutions are
advised that they are subject to review, upon request.
C. Institutions are responsible for verifying that undergraduate students, graduate students, and
postdoctoral researchers supported by NSF to conduct research have received training in the responsible
and ethical conduct of research.
National Institutes of Health
• Policy: 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.
• Compliance: 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.
• Resources: The NIH Research Training website (http://grants.nih.gov/training/extramural.htm) includes
additional information on instruction in responsible conduct of research and links to the Office of Research
Integrity (http://ori.hhs.gov/), links to instructional materials, and examples of programs that have been
regarded as good models for instruction in responsible conduct of research
(http://bioethics.od.nih.gov/researchethics.html).