Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
The VDS PhaNuSpo offers a training course on "Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)" that consists of modules. The indivudual modules build on each other and are designed so that the content runs parallel to the specific challenges of a PhD programme. During each training session, the PhD students will discuss different aspects of research integrity, illustrated by a wide variety of cases, and share their experiences with their PhD fellows.
- Group size: max. 50
- Credits: After the completion of all modules, you will receive 1 ECTS and a course certificate. If you complete your PhD programme before the last module, the ECTS will be awarded on a pro-rata basis.
Timetable
| Group | Registration | Module 1 | Module 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cohorte 2 with start in 2025S | Opens in March 2025 | 09 April 2025, 9.00-13.00 @ HS.1 (room no. 2A120) at UZA2 | tbs | |
| Cohorte 1 that started in 2024S | Ongoing WS series, registration closed | Concluded in May 2024 | 28 April 2025, 9:00-12:00 @ HS.1 (room no. 2A120) at UZA2. | |
Module 1: Responsible Conduct of Research - how to deal with issues and dilemmas
Learning objectives: Participants learn strategies on how to discuss and deal with issues and dilemmas that occur in life science research; and they will learn to deal with these issues from a Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) perspective. Furthermore, participants learn to identify breach of RCR by other researchers, e.g., in publications, research proposals, and behaviour.
Instructional method: Participants prepare for the course by reading 1-2 articles on RCR. 1) A lecture will introduce the different aspects of RCR in the life sciences. 2) Participants will subsequently discuss in small outbreak groups either premade dilemmas, or they can enter their own experience as a discussion topic. 3) The outbreak groups will shortly present their dilemma, the discussion outcome and considerations in a plenary session.
Module 2: Integrity in academic publication: authorship and peer review
Learning objectives: You learn how to be or become a good author and fair reviewer. Our aim is to stimulate you to become aware of relevant issues in your academic publishing practice and ways to approach them from a Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) perspective.
To be updated soon: Instructional method: You will first complete the E-module "Integrity in academic publication: authorship and peer review", which will take approximately 3-4 hours. Next, you will participate in an one-hour live meeting plenary session in which you discuss several tasks performed in the E-module guided by the trainer.
Module 3: Responsible research through supervision, mentoring and working together
Learning objectives: You will be introduced to key challenges that you could face when collaborating with others during your PhD research. Furthermore, you will learn how to deal with expectations and responsibility in supervision and mentoring.
To be updated: Instructional method: You will first complete the E-module "Responsible research through supervision, mentoring and working together". Next, you will participate in an one-hour live meeting plenary session in which you discuss several tasks performed in the E-module guided by the trainer.
Trainers
of Cohorte 2 starting from April 2025 and onwards
Eva-Maria Plessl: Postdoc at the Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology f the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Haider Sami: Senior Scientist at the MMCT-Lab, Divison of Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
of Cohorte 1 that started in summer semester 2024
Marcel van der Heyden is associate professor in the department of Medical Physiology at the University Medical Center Utrecht. He obtained his PhD in the field of cancer research at the Utrecht University in 1995. Thereafter he performed two post-docs on stem cell biology and connexins at the Netherlands Institute of Developmental Biology. He entered the field of cardiac arrhythmias in 2000. Currently, his focus is on cardiac potassium ion channel pharmacology and ion channel trafficking. His research group combines functional electrophysiological methods with cellular and molecular biology, and biochemical methods. He authored more than 150 peer reviewed papers, most of which deal with membrane protein biology and pharmacology including ion channels. Marcel also teaches and writes on scientific integrity and is Consulting Editor for Research Integrity for the British Journal of Pharmacology, and member of the Utrecht University Committee for Research Integrity. Marcel is editor on several peer review physiology and pharmacology journals.
More information (course structure & content) at the Utrecht University website PhD Course Centre Agenda - Graduate School of Life Sciences
Cancellation and No-show policy
Once you have signed up for a course, we expect you to attend. For every late cancellation or no-show we have had to disappoint others who would have liked to attend. Our policy is:
- We expect that you actively attend the full course, but at least 80%. It is mandatory to attend the first session. If you do not attend the first session, you will not be able to follow the remaining of the course.