Training & Education
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Core Basic Training
New faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, and others serving as principal investigators (PIs) are required to complete online CITI RCR Core Training.
Agency Specific RCR Training
Required training must be completed by those working on projects supported by NSF and USDA-NIFA projects and NIH career and training awards. The required training depends on role or classification.
Summary of Training by Classification
| For PIs on All Awards* |
NIH Career & Training Awards |
NSF Awards | USDA-NIFA Awards | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Required** | Required | Required | Required |
| Master's | Required** | Required | Required | Required |
| Doctoral | Required** | Required | Required | Required |
| Postdoctoral | Required** | Required | Required | Required |
| Faculty | Required** | Required | Not Required | Required |
| Staff | Required** | Not Required | Not Required | Required |
*Per UMN Education Requirements for PI Eligibility
**Required for all individuals serving as Principal Investigator (PI) on an award, regardless of the source of funds.
Additional Training & Education
To ensure the ethical and safe conduct of research and to meet regulatory requirements, the University of Minnesota requires faculty, staff, and students who serve on research projects to complete Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training. The RCR courses do not fulfill IRB (human subjects) or IACUC (animal subjects) training requirements. For more information about training requirements, visit the Research Compliance Training Guide: