
Online, Live Class Sessions
January 18 – April 19, 2023
Wednesdays • 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. US Central Time
Don't miss this unique experience - APS's course is interactive and discussion-based.
“It really opened my eyes to a lot of things that should be obvious to researchers, but are not."
“It was great to learn from so many different people from different countries and at different career stages."
Registration for this course is closed.
Course Overview
Scientific research has never been more important to society’s well-being, but misconduct scandals undermine public support for science. How can you demonstrate a high standard of research conduct and encourage others to do the same?
This course takes an interactive, discussion-based approach, allowing students to benefit from a wide range of perspectives on ethical issues and real-world scenarios. You will walk away ready to model and advocate for high ethical standards despite pressures to do otherwise.
We meet via Zoom one hour a week for 14 weeks and use the online resource “Introduction to the Responsible Conduct of Research” by Nicholas Steneck as our main text. Each class session has approximately one hour of pre-work to complete and turn in prior to the next class. This course also includes ample small-group discussion around case studies and short readings.
This course is best suited for graduate students, post-doctorates (within 5 years of graduation), research staff members, and lab technicians and meets the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training requirements for NSF, NIH, and USDA NIFA grant applications. NIH grants state, “acceptable [RCR training] programs generally involve at least eight contact hours.”
Course Outcomes:
- Gain a clearer focus on ethical issues that arise in research.
- Develop strategies for upholding personal ethical standards in research.
- Increase awareness of research policies and the need for compliance.
- Learn how to deal with research misconduct by others.
- Build skills to succeed in mentoring, collaborating, publishing, and reviewing.
Completion Requirements:
To receive a Certificate of Completion toward NIH, NSF, and USDA NIFA training requirements, attendees must:
- Meet 80% class attendance
- Complete 80% of all assignments
Course Topics:
Week 1
| Course Introduction: What is RCR?
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Week 2
| Research misconduct: "The Lab" video
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Week 3
| Real cases & causes of misconduct
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Week 4
| Plagiarism
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Week 5
| Human and animal subjects
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Week 6
| Conflict of interest
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Week 7
| Data management and security
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Week 8
| Export control and permits
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Week 9
| Mentor and trainee responsibilities
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Week 10
| Creating safe research environments
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Week 11
| Collaborative research
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Week 12
| Authorship and publication
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Week 13
| Peer review
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Week 14
| Constructive intervention
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Instructors
The instructors have led this course at Iowa State University annually for the past 14 years, using online and in-person formats.

Mark Gleason Professor, Iowa State University
|  Leonor F. Leandro Professor, Iowa State University
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2023 Course Fee
- APS Student, Early Career, or Undergraduate Members: $79
- APS Members: $99
- Non-Member: $199
Tuition Includes:
- An opportunity to learn from experts and peers in the field
- Certificate of completion to include in your RCR plan
- Educational materials
- Relationship-building opportunities
Cancellation Policy
Registration cancellations MUST be made in writing and received no later than January 5, 2023 and are subject to a $25 cancellation fee. Registration cancellations received after January 5, 2023, are NOT subject to a refund. If the association cancels this course, your registration fee will be refunded in full. By registering for this course, you agree to the cancellation and refund terms, and conditions.
Questions? Contact:
The American Phytopathological Society
3285 Northwood Circle, Suite 100
St. Paul, MN 55121
Telephone: +1.651.454.7250
Fax: +1.651.454.0766
E-mail:
apshq@scisoc.org