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Responsible Conduct of Research Course Syllabus

Upcoming Course

October 19, 2026 - November 3, 2026


I. Course Overview

1. Who should take this course?

  • The Responsible Conduct of Research course is designed to satisfy ethics training requirements of federal agencies such as the NIH, NSF, and DOD, specifically for Postdocs, Medical Research Fellows, and Early Career Researchers.
  • For example, those who:
    1. Have funding from individual federal Fellowships such as NIH F32 or DOD Fellowships
    2. Are supported by Training Grants such as T32 or K12
    3. Are funded by K-type Career Development awards

2. What does this course look like?

  • Sessions will include presentations by faculty and discussion of topic-specific cases.
  • Readings, case study submission, and communications about the course will be available through Brainier.

3. When is the course?

  • Spring and Fall Semester
  • Mondays, 2:30pm to 4:40pm, two sessions with a short break in between
  • All sessions will be in-person only.
  • You must attend all sessions to receive credit.
    o If you are unable to attend a session, you must make it up in a subsequent semester.
  • Although other ethics courses may hold some of their classes online, it has no relevance for this course or your requirements as postdocs or early career researchers.

4. What will I gain by the end of this course?

  • Knowledge of national and university principles, laws and policies that guide the ethical conduct of research
  • Increased awareness in application of ethical principles and policies in present and future research efforts and resolution of ethical problems through discussions of these principles with expert and experienced faculty.
  • Encouraged use of ethical guiding principles in planning future careers.
  • Deeper understanding of the broad complexity of ethical problems.

5. Whom can I email when I have a question?

  • Course content: Aryeh Stein, PhD, Rollins School of Public Health
  • Course materials and records; Brainier questions: Teaching Assistant, TBA
  • Course Registration: Brian Ciliax, Director of Data Services, Office of Postdoctoral Education
  • Course certificates: Angela Shennette, Senior Program Coordinator, Office of Postdoctoral Education


II. Course Map

In-person sessions (2 classes/session) will be held at:

 

DATE TOPIC AND FACILITATOR TIME
Oct. 19

Course Overview; Research with Human Participants

Aryeh Stein

2:30 - 3:30pm

Lab Data Management

Judy Fridovich-Keil

 3:40 - 4:40pm
Oct. 26

Data Science, Data Privacy & Data Sharing

Lance Waller

2:30 - 3:30pm

Conflict of Interest & Conflict of Commitment

Deepika Bhatia

3:40 - 4:40pm
Nov. 2

Authorship

Judy Fridovich-Keil

2:30 - 3:30pm 

Team Science

Carmen Marsit

3:40 - 4:40pm
Nov. 9

Safe Environments

Joanne Henderson

2:30 - 3:30pm

Use of Animal Subjects in Research

Denise Levesque & Yoland Smith

3:40 - 4:40pm
Nov. 16

Mentorship

Larry Boise

2:30 - 3:30pm

Scientific Misconduct

Aryeh Stein

3:40 - 4:40pm
Nov. 23 Final Course Review Due

 

Brainier: Background Information Documents on Each Topic may include:

  1. Introduction to the topic and importance in research
  2. Historical perspective of the importance of the topic; Relevant national and Emory University Guidelines and Policies
  3. Sample Case Studies with guide questions that can be used as examples to construct a case study for assignment submission. These examples illustrate the ethical principles involved in each topic.
  4. Links to additional literature and resources on the topic


IIIa. Assignments: Overview and deadlines

Please submit directly to Brainier through the corresponding Assignment tile (with indicated STEP # in grid below). All assignments are due by 11:59pm on the date listed.

 

For Postdocs and Fellows: Case Studies and End-of-Course Quiz

Due Dates STEP # Assignment
October 18
 9 Case study: "Research with Human Participants" OR "Lab Data Management"
October 25 20 Case study: "Data Science, Data Privacy & Data Sharing" OR "Conflict of Interest & Conflict of Commitment"
November 1 30 Case study: "Authorship" OR "Team Science "
November 8 37 Case study: "Safe Environments" OR "Use of Animal Subjects in Research"
November 15 49 Case study: "Mentorship" OR "Scientific Misconduct"
November 23 52 End-of-Course Quiz

 

For Faculty: Teaching/Mentoring Reports & End-of-Course Quiz

Due Dates STEP # Assignment
November 16 28/46 Summary reports of two required mentoring/teaching sessions on:
(1) "Authorship" AND (2) "Mentorship"
November 23 49 End-of-Course Quiz

 



IIIb. Assignments: Description

Postdocs and Medical Fellows

1. Read the Background Information documents prior to class.
2. Submit a Case for one of the topics to be discussed in each session.
  1. Write a Case /Scenario (approximately 250 words 􀂲 ½ page single space) of an ethical problem you have personally experienced, know of in other labs, or can imagine, that illustrates some of the principles in the Background Information document.
  2. At the end of your case, write three questions that could be used in class discussions of the principle(s) illustrated in your case and could lead to recommendations for action or solutions to the problem(s) in the case study.
  3. The case study is to be submitted as an upload to Brainier the evening before the classroom discussions (see due dates above).

3. Complete the multiple-choice End-of-Course Quiz. (Step 52 in Brainier)

 

Faculty-rank Registrants

1. Read the Background Information documents prior to class.
2. Conduct two (one-hour each) discussions with graduate student(s) or Postdoc(s) using case studies and/or policies on

a. Authorship AND
b. Mentorship

A summary of the two mentoring/teaching sessions (~200 words each) is to be signed by the faculty person and trainee(s) and submitted by the end of the course to Brainier.

3. Complete the multiple-choice End-of-Course Quiz. (Step 49 in Brainier)



IV. Administrative Policies

Will I receive documentation of successful completion of the course?

To receive a certificate and verification from the Office of the Postdoctoral Education that the Ethics course was taken and completed as required by NIH, you are required to:

  1. Submit all required assignments
  2. Attend ALL discussion sessions
  3. Submit the completed End-of-Course Quiz with a grade of at least 75%

The Office of Postdoctoral Education will provide a description of the course that can be used in fellowship and grant applications.


What if I need to miss a class? If extraordinary circumstances preclude attending a session, please let Aryeh Stein (aryeh.stein@emory.edu) know. You will be expected to make up the session in a subsequent offering of the course.



V. How to Register



VII. Transportation