Graduate Students


Basic Science Graduate Students — GRAD 214

The Graduate Division coordinates an annual course, GRAD 214, entitled "Foundations in Ethical Research Responsible Conduct of Research" (RCR). This course meets the NIH requirements for training in the Responsible Conduct of Research required of all graduate students. Pre-COVID-19, the GRAD 214 RCR course was offered in person at both Mission Bay and Parnassus. In 2023-2024, GRAD 214 attendance will take place fifty percent in person and 50% remotely. From January to June 2024, a monthly lecture will be presented from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at either the Mission Bay or the Parnassus campus; in person attendance will be required on the campus at which the student’s graduate program is housed. In addition to the monthly lecture, a faculty led small group discussion session will be presented by program faculty; specific dates and times will be established by each graduate program.

Basic Course Information

Lecture Meeting Dates and Times

January 8, February 5, March 4, April 8, May 6, and June 3, 2024
11:30 a.m.  to 1 p.m.

Lecture Lead: Dr. Tori Sharma, PhD. Oversees Research Administration and Compliance at the University of California Berkeley.

Course Locations (Attend class in person when lecture is on your home campus)

January 8, March 4, and May 6 - Mission Bay (in-person), Parnassus (Zoom)

February 5, April 8, and June 3 - Parnassus (in-person), Mission Bay (Zoom)

Discussion Sections Meeting Dates and Times

Graduate Faculty led discussion sessions will be held in the same week as the monthly course lecture. Led by graduate faculty, students will spend 90 minutes in small groups discussing cases related to that month’s RCR lecture. Dates and times will be set by individual programs; attendance will be recorded.

It is highly encouraged that initial instruction during pre-doctoral training occurs as early as possible in graduate school. UCSF graduate students are required to take GRAD 214 in their first year. To meet the above requirements, instruction in RCR may take place, in appropriate circumstances, in a year when the trainee, fellow or career award recipient is not actually supported by an NIH grant.

The GRAD 214 RCR course will use lecture and case study formats, and this course is designed to address key issues affecting the responsible conduct of scientific research, including:

  • Scientific Misconduct and Ethics in Science
  • Biomedical Research and Human Subjects
  • Scientific Record Keeping and Data Management
  • Animals in Research: Animal Rights and Welfare
  • Diversity and Equity
  • Publication, Responsible Authorship and Peer Review Practices
  • The Art of Mentoring and Being Mentored
  • Conflicts of Interest: Science Outside of the Academy

This course is required for first-year graduate students enrolled in UCSF’s basic science PhD graduate programs. Graduate students will be prompted to register for the course by their program administrators.

Contact Information
D'Anne Duncan, PhD
Assistant Dean of the Graduate Division
GRAD 214 RCR Course Director
[email protected]

Questions regarding the GRAD 214 course? Please contact:
Nancy Street, PhD
Contracted Associate Dean of the Graduate Division
[email protected]
Or
Kourtney Nham, PhD Graduate Student and Rosenberg-Hill Fellow
GRAD 214 Course Manager
[email protected]

Social Science Graduate Students

Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research is required for all learners funded by NIH training grants, including those in the social sciences. Please work with your program faculty and administrators to determine the best course of RCR instruction, either the Human Subject RCR course or the Graduate Student RCR course.

RCR Refresher Course for 5th Year Graduate Students

NIH mandates that trainees on an NIH institutional research training grant, individual fellowship, career development award (institutional or individual), research education grant, dissertation research grant, or other grant programs that have a significant training component have a minimum of eight hours of formal instruction at least once during each career stage and at least every four years. Training is expected to be in-person, interactive, and iterative (i.e. not a repetition of earlier training).

At UCSF, advanced students meet this requirement by signing up and attending either the Human Subjects RCR Course or the Basic Science RCR Course, depending on research area.