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Science Ethics

Resources on ethical matters in science including but not limited to: publication ethics; diversity, equity, and inclusion; social justice; data ethics; and university resources related to ethics. By Zachary Lannes and Yulia Sevryugina.

Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship

U-M requires all students and employees engaged in research and scholarship to complete training provided by the Program for Education and Evaluation in Responsible Research and Scholarship (PEERRS). This training is compliant with federal agency (NSF, USDA). Below, we offer some helpful links for users required to engage with these courses:

FAQs

Who is required to take RCRS courses?

"[A]ll U-M employees and students engaged in any facet of research and scholarship, regardless of internal or external support, including (but not limited to) publishing works, presentation of research, data collection and analysis, participation in internal or sponsored research or grants/awards, leadership of academic centers producing new knowledge and/or scholarship, media presentation, and creative works in the arts."

Which course(s) should I take?

PEERRS offers many research ethics courses; however, not every researcher needs to enroll in every course. To identify the required courses for different research areas and user designations, use the PEERRS Training Requirements page.

How do I enroll in the appropriate course(s)?

The PEERRS Portal lists links to relevant courses in the MyLINC environment. These courses are self-paced and users can enroll on-demand as needed.

Additionally, many academic departments and colleges offer instructor-led courses for graduate students that fulfill the RCRS requirement for the Rackham Graduate School. Users should enroll during registration each semester.

How long does course certification last?

RCRS-PEERRS certifications are valid three years from completion.

Reccommended Resources

Sources

Responsible Conduct of Research and Scholarship (RCRS) Training. (2024). U-M Research. https://research.umich.edu/research-at-michigan/ovpr-units/rcrs/