Research Associate/Postdoctoral Researcher RECR Education
For proposals submitted to NSF on or after July 31, 2023, all researchers, including faculty, post-docs, graduate and undergraduate students, and other senior personnel named on proposals to NSF must complete RECR training before engaging in research projects sponsored by the Foundation.
Initially, only Research Associates and Postdoctoral Researchers supported on new NSF awards are required to complete the following CITI - Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative modules in the MSU Research Associate/Postdoctoral Researcher RECR Program. The training must be completed within 60 days of initial appointment. The proposed modules are tentative at present.
- Introduction to Responsible Conduct of Research
- Mentoring
- Research Misconduct
- Authorship
- Plagiarism
Starting in Fall Semester of 2024, the plan is for RECR education to be required for all new Research Associates and Postdoctoral Researchers as part of their onboarding at MSU.
The philosophy is that the online training modules function as a baseline on foundational topics with the instructor-led sessions building upon this foundation and serving as a mechanism for (i) keeping all up to date on current federal policies, (ii) learning about best practices in research and scholarship integrity matters through case studies, and (iii) providing guidance on ethical decision-making. The instructor-led sessions also provide an opportunity to address questions and concerns participants may have.
Online CITI Training Modules
New Research Associate/Postdoctoral Researcher RECR Program (select this in CITI)
- Introduction to RCR (RCR-Basic) - ID: 17009
- Mentoring and Healthy Research Environments (RCR-Basic) - ID: 20983
- Authorship (RCR-Basic) - ID: 16597
- Plagiarism (RCR-Basic) - ID: 15156
- Data Management (RCR-Basic) - ID: 20896
- Research Misconduct (RCR-Basic) - ID: 16604
The approximate time for each module is 30 min. Modules to be completed within the first 90 days of appointment.
Access the training modules at CITI
- Login "Through My Organization" using your MSU NetID and password.
- Select "MSU Postdoctoral RCR Program"
Online Training Modules on Research Security
New federal requirements (NSF) mandate education on Research Security. New training modules are being developed nationally and are expected to be available for use late in 2023. These requirements will be more clearly specified in the spring of 2024.
Instructor-led Discussion Workshops
Postdoctoral researchers must also complete the following three workshops.
- Mentoring, Safe Research Environments, and Collaborative Research
- Research Misconduct and Detrimental Research Practices
- Research Security Issues and Benefits of International Collaboration
Postdocs will register for these workshops ahead of time on the Research Integrity website. Workshops must be completed within the first six months of appointment.