Skip to main content
NC State Home
Division of Academic and Student Affairs
Office of Undergraduate Research

Required Training

Before embarking on any research journey, students should first investigate what sort of training is necessary to keep them and those impacted by their research safe.

A student researcher’s required training will vary based on what they are working with and where the research is being conducted. Below are three main categories of training students should investigate, and if necessary, complete before starting research.

Responsible Conduct of Research Training

In addition to following the code of student conduct, student researchers (in fact, all researchers) are expected to follow the principles of research integrity at NC State (regardless of training requirements). Researchers are expected to actively participate in creating and maintaining a culture of research integrity (beyond mere compliance). All student researchers are strongly encouraged to participate in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training. This training covers the many facets of research integrity and provides an expansive look at how deeply intertwined good research and ethics are with each other.

Additionally, undergraduates whose research is supported, even in part, by an outside agency such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), The National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), etc. are likely required by that agency to complete RCR training. Note: This is true for NSF, NIH, and the USDA.

Students should complete RCR training as soon as possible and revisit the topics frequently throughout their career. If concerns or questions ever arise, the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Conflict Resolution and Concern Escalation Protocol details how and where students can get support.

As an example of research, a student researcher walks through ankle-deep creek water to collect invertebrates using a net.

To learn more, the Research Administration and Compliance unit within the Office of Research and Innovation provides up-to-data information on the requirements and university policies surrounding Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training.

Safety Training

Working around certain organisms, chemicals, and/or machines can be dangerous if the right precautions aren’t taken. Student researchers should always consult with their mentors about the risks and hazards associated with a given project and research space.

As an example of research, two researchers in the Textile Protection and Comfort Center (TPACC) test newly designed flame-resistant clothes made for emergency personal.

Once these risks and hazards are identified, proper training should be completed and routinely revisited to keep the information easily recalled when needed. Remember, no one plans to have an accident! Students should not begin research until all necessary training is complete.

Environmental Health and Safety provides key safety training for the campus as well as additional guidance and resources for the different risks and hazards students and employees may face with their work.

Human & Animal Subject Training

Working with human or animal subjects, or even human data alone, requires specialized training to ensure the ethical and safe handling of subjects and any personal/critical information. This training is often paired with the need to obtain approval for a research study before it can begin. Students should not begin research until all necessary training is complete and all necessary approvals have been obtained.

As an example of research, a student researcher wearing overalls, gloves, and a hair net is smiling as they hold up one of the piglets from their study examining a way to increase piglet survival after birth.