Compliance Training

Animal Use Training

Federal regulations require all personnel involved in the care and use of animals in research to complete appropriate training and continuing education. At the University of Notre Dame, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) ensures that appropriate training for those who:

• Work with live vertebrate animals for research, teaching, or testing purposes
• Handle animal tissues collected from live, vertebrate animals
• Observe animal procedures
• Provide care for research animals
• Are listed on an approved IACUC protocol completed

Biosafety Training

The University of Notre Dame requires that Investigators complete annual training if engaged in research involving rDNA, SNA, and other regulated materials regardless of the funding source and regardless of whether the rDNA or SNA research is considered exempt from the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules

Conflict of Interest Training

The Department of Energy, the National Institute of Health, and other Public Health Service federal funding agencies require conflict of interest training which focuses on educating individuals about situations where their personal interests or relationships may potentially interfere with their objectivity or judgment in research activities. The following roles are required to take this training:

• Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators

• Senior/Key Staff and Personnel involved in funded projects

• Other staff and research team members may also be required to take this training. Conflict of Interest Reporting is also required on a regular basis to ensure ongoing alignment with COI rules.

Human Subject Research Training

The University of Notre Dame requires that any researcher conducting human subjects research (interacting with subjects, or accessing private identifiable data), as well as faculty advisors, must complete Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training prior to approval to work with human subjects.

Research involving human subjects requires researchers and staff to be trained in these areas:

• Federal regulations such as the Common Rule (45 CFR 46), HIPAA

• Social and behavioral guidelines governing human subjects protection

• Informed consent procedures

• Confidentiality safeguards

• IRB review processes

Research Security and International Activities

Researchers at all stages are encouraged to educate themselves on guidelines for international collaboration and scholarship. Adequate understanding by the research community helps preserve and strengthen the research reputation of the University and to protect important work from unwarranted scrutiny. 

Research Security Training

As required by the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense (DoD), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), all covered individuals including PIs, Co-PIs, and Senior Personnel, and any additional groups indicated by the sponsor, must complete research security training in the 12 months immediately preceding submission of a proposal. Both covered individuals and the university must certify at the time of proposal submission that the training has been completed. The training can be completed online via the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).

You can access the CITI module by using our step-by-step guide.

Export Control Training

The University of Notre Dame requires export control training be completed using the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).

Export control training is required for the following research-connected roles who anticipate working in export controlled areas or anticipate submitting an export control license (or exception):

• Faculty

• Graduate Students

• Postdoctoral Scholars

• Other individuals as designated by Notre Dame Research on a case-by-case bases

Certification is good for three years and it must be completed before beginning work.

Responsible Conduct Training                                          

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training is required for research-connected roles who receive National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), or National Institutes of Health (NIH) training funds.

Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training is required for the following research-connected roles:

• NSF, USDA, or NIH training Principal Investigators (PIs) and Co-Investigators

• Research staff and senior personnel supported by NSF, USDA, or NIH training funds

• NSF, USDA, and NIH training supported undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers

• IRB members

• NDRAC research administrative staff

• Other individuals as designated by Notre Dame Research on a case-by-case bases