Intro. to Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) in the Life Sciences
Spring semester 1 credit
Description
Have you wondered to what extent generative AI can appropriately be used in research? How to find a good mentor and be one? This course introduces students to ethical and regulatory issues in the conduct of research. It covers the core areas of responsible conduct of research (RCR), as identified by the National Institutes of Health. The areas are:
- Conflict of interests and commitment
- Human subjects
- Animal subjects
- Safe laboratory practices
- Mentorship
- Inclusive research environments
- Collaborative research
- Peer review
- Secure and ethical data acquisition, analysis, and use
- Research misconduct
- Responsible authorship and publication
- Social responsibility in science
Discussion of real and hypothetical cases will tie broad ethical considerations to current concerns of scientists.
Learning Outcomes
Through completing this course, students will develop their capacities in:
- Identifying ethical dilemmas in research
- Identifying norms, policies, and regulations that speak to those ethical dilemmas
- Using problem solving skills to generate and select options for action in the face of such dilemmas
Requirements
Program | 4+1 | MS | PhD |
| Biology | X | X | X |
| Biology (Biology and Society) | X | X | X |
| Microbiology | X | X | X |
| Molecular and Cellular Biology | X | X | X |
| Neuroscience | X | X | |
| Animal Behavior | X | ||
| Biology (Complex Adaptive Systems Science) | X | ||
| Environmental Life Sciences | X | ||
| Evolutionary Biology | X | ||
| History and Philosophy of Science | X | ||
| Computational Life Sciences | X | X | |
| Plant Biology and Conservation |
| X |
X Degree requires BIO 610, Intro to RCR in the Life Sciences
X Degree without ethics requirement