Research Ethics

Integrity in research is crucial to maintaining the public's trust in research. Researchers in all fields rely on others to limit or acknowledge bias and to honestly and accurately report their findings.  Although the burden for ensuring the integrity of the research record lies predominantly with the researchers themselves, everyone involved in the research process, whether they are collaborators, students, technicians, administrators, or volunteers, has a role to play in supporting the responsible conduct of research and reporting concerns of research misconduct. 

UAF offers a "Responsible Conduct of Research" workshop once a month, both in person and online. This training is required for National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) grants and research personnel but is open to any UAF faculty, student, post-doc, or staff. RCR training is designed to promote the integrity of the university’s research by addressing core issues for responsible research conduct and maintaining the integrity of the research record. Several professional guidance documents are also available to help research personnel navigate ethical issues.

• "What is Ethics in Research & Why is it Important?": The NIH posted an essay by Dr. David Resnick on the importance of ethics in research.
• "On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research 3rd Edition": A free publication from NSF.
• "Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic": Relevant to Alaska in particular, this NSF document emphasizes not only principles of ethical research but encourages respect for all individuals, cultures, and the environment. Projects on Indigenous homelands or involving Indigenous Peoples should be coordinated with Indigenous leadership and follow all applicable regulations and local research guidelines.

UAF Policy - Responsible Conduct of Research Training

The UAF Chancellor signed the Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) Training Policy (Policy #10.07.001) on June 8, 2010.  The Office of Research Integrity is responsible for developing operating procedures, training resources, and tracking compliance with the requirements of this policy and to address NSF and NIH policies. NSF and NIH have their own independent RCR policies that apply to different grants and/or research personnel. Please visit their web sites for more information: 

• NSF Grant Proposal Guide (January 2016)
• NSF FAQ page on RCR
• NSF General information on Responsible Conduct of Research 
• NIH Policy on Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research
• NIH Office of Intramural Research web site on the Responsible Conduct of Research

Additional Research Ethics Training

These courses are available for any UAF student, faculty, or researcher. They are only a generally required if you are specifically instructed to do so, and it does not fulfill the NIH and NSF requirements for contact hours. For more information contact ORI (907-474-7800) or visit our Training Programs page.