Postdoctoral Affairs Responsible Conduct of Research

Responsible Conduct of Research is defined as "the practice of scientific investigation with integrity." It involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to scientific research.

As part of the America COMPETES Act of 2007, all trainees, fellows, participants, and scholars receiving support through any NIH or NSF training, career development , research education, or fellowship grants must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research at least once every four years during each career stage (undergraduate student, graduate student, postdoctoral associate).

At Baylor College of Medicine, all research participants are encouraged to participate in RCR training. Graduate students receive RCR training as part of the curriculum within the M.S. and Ph.D. programs offered at BCM. For postdocs, there are annual training sessions held each spring in the months of March, April, and May. This training takes place via four training modules, each including lecture topics and small-group case study discussions. If all four training modules are not completed in the same year, the remainder can be completed the following year. Modules are independent and can be viewed in any order.

Each year on the first Monday in February, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences will announce dates for Postdoc RCR training. This announcement will be made via the BCM Postdoc Listserv. Registration is handled via the PAPS system by the announced deadlines.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training for postdocs will be held in 2024 on Thursday afternoons during the month of April (April 4, 11, 18 and 25). Sessions will run from 12:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. The location will be room N315 in the Alkek Building on the BCM main campus.

Training Description

RCR Training for the research postdoc community is offered once per year in the month of April. The training consists of four modules, which each include lectures, discussions, and small group activities. The modules are numbered 1-4 (for recording-keeping purposes) but can be attended in any order. The expectation is that all four modules should ideally be taken in the same year; however, a trainee can make up an absence in the following year to complete the training. All four modules must be completed during two back-to-back years for the training to be considered complete. While in postdoc status, an individual in an NIH-funded laboratory should attend RCR training at least once every four years. RCR training on a recurring basis is encouraged for all BCM postdocs regardless of lab funding source.

Training Dates for 2024

• Thursday, April 4, 2024 - 12:30 - 5 p.m. - Room N315, Main Campus
• Thursday, April 11, 2024 - 12:30 - 5 p.m. - Room N315, Main Campus
• Thursday, April 18, 2024 - 12:30 - 5 p.m. - Room N315, Main Campus
• Thursday, April 25, 2024 - 12:30 - 5 p.m. - Room N315, Main Campus

Registration Process

Registration for the 2024 training session is open from February 5 to March 29, 2024. The deadline to register is March 29, 2024. Advanced registration is required to take the training. Individuals who attend any training sessions without registering in advance will not have that training counted. 

• Research postdocs register through the PAPS system. To register, a postdoc's profile must be current and their appointment up-to-date. Contact the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs with questions regarding PAPS access and procedures.  
• Clinical faculty/fellows/postdocs and other research staff, see below.

Upon successful completion of the training, the GSBS Curriculum Office provides an informal certificate of completion (PDF format). Postdoc RCR training is not considered graduate-level coursework for credit and does not appear on an official transcript.  

RCR Training for Clinical Postdocs/Fellows

Clinical postdocs and fellows can learn about registering for the Responsible Conduct of Research for Clinical Investigators (RCRCI) course offered by the Graduate School's Clinical Scientist Training Program in August every year. The registration deadline for that course is in mid-July.  RCRCI meets for four consecutive days Monday through Thursday, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. (Aug. 21-24 in 2023). Preregistration is required; this course is considered graduate-level coursework and successful completion is logged on an official transcript.  

RCR Training for Other Members of the Research Community

For information on RCR training for faculty, primary investigators, research staff, and administrative contacts, including CITI training, please email the Office of Research Compliance (oor-compliance@bcm.edu).