Basic Sciences RCR

Responsible Conduct of Research in Basic Sciences

UCSF Program Lead: Chequeta Allen, Assistant Dean for Postdoctoral Scholars
E-mail: [email protected]

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to ensure that basic sciences researchers are well versed with respect to training in responsible conduct in research (RCR). Attendees also gain an understanding of federal, state, and UCSF policies and resources available to further support their research endeavors.

UCSF Lecturers:

UCSF Faculty Discussion Section Leaders:

 

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to ensure that basic sciences researchers are well-versed in the responsible conduct of research topics at all career levels. Attendees also gain an understanding of federal, state, and UCSF policies and resources available to further support their research endeavors.

 

Required Materials and Format: Pre-reading and course content are provided in the UCSF Canvas Learning Management System for access in advance of each lecture and breakout discussion group. Postdoctoral scholars and students are required to complete assigned readings, quizzes, and asynchronous lessons before each lecture.
Attendance and engagement are required and will be monitored. Attendance is required at all lectures and breakout sections, and participation in class activities is expected to be at least 75%. Postdocs/students are required to be respectful of their peers and faculty when expressing their in-class or online views in response to questions and topics posed. Postdocs and students are required to participate in all Zoom lectures and breakout discussion groups with cameras on and focused on the session content. If a scheduled lecture or breakout discussion group is missed for any reason, such as an emergency or failure to plan, the postdoc or student should speak with the Assistant Dean to determine whether a makeup assignment is permitted to continue in the course.

 

Methods of Instruction:

  • Course sessions include pre-lecture asynchronous learning, in-person lectures, case studies, and in-person group discussions.
  • Discussion section meetings facilitated by faculty include case studies, role plays, and interactive small-group discussions.
  • All assigned course readings, pre-lecture work, quizzes, and session attendance are tracked on Canvas for reporting course completion and compliance. Course certificates are issued via Canvas and the UCSF Parchment Badges system.
     

Learning Outcomes: 

In this course, scholars will:

  • Learn and share best practices for promoting rigor and reproducibility in research, authorship, publication, racism in science, and optimal behaviors in mentorship through varied peer engagement activities.
  • Discover and practice recommended strategies for promoting diverse and inclusive research communities free of racism, microaggressions, and non-inclusive behaviors.
  • Discuss and analyze current ethical research topics surrounding human subjects and animals.
  • Review current data management tools and learn best practices for data management, along with an understanding of new federal data sharing requirements.
  • Learn to identify potential conflicts of interest and understand how to report and manage them effectively.
  • Become familiar with important concepts and reporting requirements for research security, including export controls, dual-use research, foreign influence, and data security on shared drives and devices.
  • Employ strategies to avoid authorship disputes and questionable publication practices.
  • Understand the importance of peer review and generate responsible peer reviews.

 

Session 1: Rigor and Reproducibility in Research: Are We in Crisis?

  • Types of Scientific Research at UCSF & Societal Expectations of U.S. Scientists
  • Rigor and Reproducibility in Research based on the Harvard Radcliffe study on the Reproducibility Crisis
  • Factors Affecting Reproducibility
  • What Good Looks Like - Best Practices in Rigor and Reproducibility
  • Beyond History and Analytics - What’s in Today’s Tool Bag?

Session 2: Responsible and Ethical Research - Misconduct and Social Responsibility

  • History and Government Relations
  • *New* Guidance on Foreign Influence and Research Security
  • Addressing Harm and Questionable Research Practices
  • Contemporary Ethical Issues - Public Trust & Importance of Addressing Conflicts
  • Definitions of Institutional Policies & Procedures
  • Social and Environmental Impacts of Research & Detrimental Practices

Session 3: Responsible Data Management

  • Best Practices in Data Management - Qualitative and Quantitative
  • *New* Federal Sharing Requirements
  • Developing a Data Management Plan (DMP)
  • *New* Open AI, Generative AI, Data Manipulation, and Plagiarism
  • Data Transparency Information from Nature and Cell Press Journals
  • Data Sharing During PI Transitions
  • Getting to Know UCSF & Other Resources

Session 4: Human Subjects Research and Laboratory Animals

  • Human Subjects Research-- COVID-19 Vaccines and CRISPR Therapies
  • Informed Consent Monitoring
  • Protection of Laboratory Animals and the Role of Postdocs in Animal Welfare
  • Approved Lab Researchers and IACUC Protocols
  • Policies and Best Practices on Laboratory Safety, Biosafety, and Animal Research Subjects

Session 5: Authorship, Publication, and Peer Review

  • Best Practices in Authorship and Publication - What Impact Can You Have with Peers?
  • Ethics and Ownership of Discoveries
  • *New* Guidance on Text Recycling
  • Practicing Responsible Peer Review and Becoming a Reviewer
  • *New* Open AI, Generative AI, and Plagiarism
  • Effective Collaboration Practices & Authorship

Session 6: Anti-Racism in Science, Health, and Research

  • Racism & Discrimination in Science - the History & Impact
  • Developing Inclusive Research Communities
  • Creating Inclusive Lab Environments
  • How Inclusive Communities Thrive
  • Collaborating Across Cultural Barriers

Session 7: Ethical Behavior in Mentoring Research Trainees

  • Appropriate Mentoring and Lab Relationships Between PIs and Postdocs
  • Strategies for Having Difficult Conversations
  • Resolving Conflicts and Communicating with Impact
  • Mentor/Mentee Responsibilities and Relationships
  • Mentoring Frameworks and Self-Advocacy

Session 8: UCSF Ethics and Compliance, Conflicts of Interest (COI)

  • Understand UCSF COI Requirements for Postdocs UPAY585 (personal, professional, financial)
  • Postdoc Outside Professional Activity at UCSF
  • Building a Career-Long Positive Attitude Toward Research Ethics
  • Reporting UCSF Conflicts of Interest

Offered to UCSF researchers conducting basic (non-human subjects) research, the Basic Sciences RCR course is an eight-session program designed to meet NIH and NSF requirements for training in the responsible conduct of research. The course employs a combination of faculty presentations and in-person case study discussions to address contemporary debates at the intersection of biomedical science and society. The Basic Sciences RCR course is offered twice a year during the fall and winter quarters, meeting weekly for eight weeks. The Fall session is hosted at the Parnassus campus, while the Winter session is hosted at the Mission Bay campus. In addition to in-person lectures and discussion groups, learners will also have access to supplementary resources on the UCSF Canvas course website and will be able to participate in online ethics forums. The online ethics forums provide a way for learners to continue class discussions, ask questions of course faculty and peers, post relevant articles, resources, and case studies, share their own experiences, and voice their concerns and opinions. The website is password-protected, and all comments remain confidential.

In accordance with NIH requirements, trainees who have been at UCSF longer than four years will be required to retake the Basic Science RCR course. Attendance at all sessions is required to receive a certificate or course completion badge.