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Additional Resources

These resources are not affiliated with CWRU or the RCR office and programming, but may be useful for those exploring and developing their responsible research conduct.

Institutions

  • The Office of Research Integrity (ORI): The Office of Research Integrity (ORI) promotes integrity in biomedical and behavioral research supported by the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) at about 4,000 institutions worldwide. ORI monitors institutional investigations of research misconduct and facilitates the responsible conduct of research (RCR) through educational, preventive, and regulatory activities.

  • The Project for Scholarly Integrity: The Project for Scholarly Integrity, an initiative of the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), seeks to advance the scope and quality of graduate education in the ethical and responsible conduct of research. Supported by the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), CGS has made awards to seven institutions participating in five projects, each of which is developing and assessing educational models that promote responsible scholarly conduct. This site serves as a tool for sharing ideas developed in these projects and as a clearinghouse of resources relevant to graduate deans and other university administrators, faculty, researchers, and graduate students. The resources on this site address curricular needs across a wide range of topics typically covered in responsible conduct of research (RCR) education and training. The site also addresses broad ethical issues, such as the ethical obligations of universities, as well as strategies for institutionalizing changes in the research environment.

  • The Council of Graduate Schools: The Council of Graduate Schools' (CGS) mission is to improve and advance graduate education in order to ensure the vitality of intellectual discovery. CGS accomplishes its mission through advocacy, innovative research, and the development and dissemination of best practices. Supporting graduate education is critical to achieving the highly skilled workforce needed for the U.S. to compete effectively in the 21st century global economy.

  • National Science Foundation: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…" With an annual budget of about $6.9 billion (FY 2010),the NSF is the funding source for approximately 20 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing. NSF is the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences. NSF is tasked with keeping the United States at the leading edge of discovery in areas from astronomy to geology to zoology. So, in addition to funding research in the traditional academic areas, the agency also supports "high-risk, high pay-off" ideas, novel collaborations and numerous projects that may seem like science fiction today, but which the public will take for granted tomorrow.

Training Modules

  • Columbia University: A free, 6-part series of individual modules covering seven areas of RCR training (authorship and peer review are combined in one module).

  • A Guide to Research for Undergraduates Northeastern University: The purpose of this website is to provide undergraduates interested in and/or currently participating in undergraduate research experiences in science, technology, engineering, an/or mathematics with ready information and links to reliable electronic resources on all aspects of the undergraduate research experience.

  • PEERRS —University of Michigan: University of Michigan's Program for Education and Evaluation in Responsible Research and Scholarship. "Friend" account available to those not at UM.

  • Mentoring International PostDocs Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: The reality of modern science is that the laboratory is an increasingly international place. Individuals come to the US for a variety of reasons and are faced with a specific and complex set of challenges that institutions and faculty mentors are often ill-equipped to handle.

Publications

  • The Office of Research Integrity (ORI): Contains publications that have been produced by ORI, its collaborators and contractors. The documents may be read on-line, downloaded, or printed.

  • The Council of Graduate Schools Bookstore: CGS prepares publications on issues of fundamental importance to graduate education. Publications are available for purchase using the Online Bookstore or by fax.

  • On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct of Research: To reduce the likelihood of ethical lapses in research, the National Academies has just released a new edition of "On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct of Research." The book gives an overview of the professional standards of science in subjects such as mentoring, treatment of data, allocation of credit, and conflict of interest. The text is punctuated by case studies of hypothetical sticky situations and actual scientific scandals.

Topical Resources