The Public Health Service and National Science Foundation (NSF) require recipients of grants to develop policies on scientific misconduct and adopt procedures to both uncover acts of research fraud and examine allegations of misconduct in the conduct of research.
Allegations of Research Misconduct are to be directed to the Research Integrity Officer (RIO) who will consult confidentially with persons uncertain about whether to submit an Allegation of Research Misconduct. The RIO is responsible for: (1) assessing Allegations of Research Misconduct to determine if they fall within the definition of Research Misconduct, are covered by federal regulations, and warrant an Inquiry on the basis that the Allegation is sufficiently credible and specific so that potential evidence of Research Misconduct may be identified; and (2) overseeing Inquiries and Investigations; and (3) the other responsibilities described in this policy. Research Misconduct is defined as fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism or other practices in the conduct of research, scholarly, or creative activity that seriously deviate from those that are commonly accepted within the academic community for proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. Misconduct in research does not include honest error or differences of opinion.
The RIO at Binghamton University is the Assistant Vice President for Research Compliance
and can be reached at (607) 777-3532
or at nlewis@binghamton.edu.
Binghamton University follows the below policies regarding the responsible conduct of research in all fields throughout the University.
Binghamton University's Policy on Responsible Conduct of Research
Binghamton University's Expectations on Research Data
Binghamton University and the Research Foundation's Policy on RCR Training
Responsible Conduct of Research Training
Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training is required by federal sponsors including the NSF, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USDA and others. Every University receiving grant support from the NSF and specific funded programs through the NIH must have an RCR program in place as a condition for accepting these grants.
Online Training
At Binghamton University all undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers supported in any part by a grant from the NSF or the NIH are required to complete an online training program.
Binghamton University utilizes Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) to complete online training programs. This same program is in use by many research-intensive universities nationwide.
Principal Investigators (PIs) and senior key personnel who have federal awards are required to complete Conflict of Interest (COI) training (effective March 1, 2024).
Additionally, the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Section 10337) requires that all PIs and key senior personnel that are awarded NSF funding after August 1st, 2022 receive mentoring training and training to raise awareness of research security risks as well as Federal export control, disclosure and reporting requirements. To comply with this requirement, PIs and senior key personnel will complete both the RCR and Export Control Training courses in CITI.
Procedures for Online CITI Training
Click HERE and log in via the blue LOG IN button and then click "LOG IN THROUGH MY INSTITUTION" and chose SUNY-University at Binghamton.
To add a new course:
After you log in You will see the Main Menu:
Students
Click Add a Course:
Skip questions numbered 1 through 4
For question 5, select: The RCR course that best fits your research or the course you are instructed to take.
Click Complete Update
PIs and Senior Key Personnel
Click Add a Course:
Skip questions numbered 1 through 4
Question 5: select the RCR course that best fits your research or the course you are
instructed to take.
Question 6: select Yes
Question 7: select Yes
Skip remaining questions
Click Complete Update
If you do not have a CITI account and have a Binghamton University email, please do the following: Click HERE and log in via the blue LOG IN button and then click REGISTER and chose SUNY-University at Binghamton for your organization (select the one with SSO). Click both boxes that you agree and then choose (Continue to Create Your SSO Username/Password). You should then be prompted to create your account using your Binghamton email and PODS account info
If you do not have a CITI account and do not have a Binghamton University email, please do the following: Click HERE and log in via the blue LOG IN button and then click REGISTER and chose SUNY-University at Binghamton for your organization ( Do not select the one with SSO). Click both boxes that you agree and then choose (Continue to Create Your CITI Program Username/Password). You should then be prompted to create your account using your own email.
Face-to-Face Seminars and Workshops
NIH requires that all trainees, fellows, participants and scholars receiving support through any NIH training, career development award, research education grant and dissertation research grant must receive instruction in responsible conduct of research.
The Office of Research Compliance within the Division of Research at Binghamton University will conduct face-to-face workshops thought the academic year covering subjects including but not limited to: acquisition, management, sharing and ownership of data; animal welfare; authorship/plagiarism; collaboration; conflict of interest; human subject protections; mentoring; peer review; and ethics in research.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
The Binghamton Biofilm Research Center will offer its third workshop for Spring 2024 next month. It is a 3-day hands-on “Working with Microorganisms” workshop that is scheduled to take place on Monday (April 8th), Wednesday (April 10th), and Friday (April 12th) 2024. The workshop will include both online instruction and in-person, hands-on skill practice. Each day of the workshop will include a pre-recorded pre-lab lecture video and in-person sessions from 5-7 p.m. in the Center of Excellence (COE) room B401. All participants must watch the pre-lab lecture videos and attend the in-person sessions for ALL THREE DAYS.
The purpose of each workshop is to train Binghamton University students, staff, and faculty in basic microbiology techniques. Attendees who successfully complete the training and attend all three online and in-person sessions will be certified by the Binghamton University Institutional Biosafety Committee to work in BSL-1 and BSL-2 labs.
The workshop will focus on medium preparation and autoclaving, aseptic technique in the handling of microorganisms, determining the overall number and purity of bacteria in a sample, stock culture preparation, and gram staining. No prior microbiology knowledge is required for this workshop. During the hands-on portion of the workshop, you may choose whether to wear a face mask. PPE including lab coats, masks, and gloves will be supplied to all participants and shared equipment will be sanitized before and after each use. Seats are limited for each workshop.
To register for the workshop please complete this google form. Registration for the workshop closes Friday, April 5th, 2024.
If you have any questions regarding the workshop, contact Victoria Oladosu (volados1@binghamton.edu).
Previous Workshops
Responsible Conduct of Research Workshops Fall 2016-Present
Lab Safety Training
UPDATE
Laboratory Safety and Hazardous Waste training are required annually to fulfill our safety requirements under OSHA and the EPA. Our training calendar runs from 8/1-7/31 to accommodate the biggest influx of new students in the Fall.
Returning students/PIs/ Staff:
If you have taken training in-person before, you are eligible to take this training online. The module will be assigned on August 1st and emailed directly to you via “BComply Mailer.” Your certificate will also be sent from this same email.
New Students/Staff/PIs/Faculty:
If you have not taken this training in person you will need to take one of these sessions. You may be sent a registration link from within your department office if a session has been set up for you. If not, you can register for an open session on B-Engaged. After attending the face to face session, you must complete a short quiz which will provide you with a certificate at the end.
X-Ray Users and High Powered Laser users:
If you have new users or users who have never taken X-Ray or Laser Safety training, we have two open sessions of each on our training calendar. Please register on B-Engaged
We encourage you to keep your certificate, it may be required to gain access to your lab. We also encourage PIs to check with their group to make sure everyone has completed the training annually.
Please also see our training webpage or our events calendar for more information.
The Lab Safety Division of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) offers online Lab Safety Training.
New instructions on how to access the online training using the in-house BComply system
are available both on the Resuming Research and Training Web Pages.
https://www.binghamton.edu/ehs/resuming_research.html
https://www.binghamton.edu/ehs/training/index.html
If you have any questions, you can contact EHS training Coordinator Stephen Endres
at sendres@binghamton.edu or please call 607-777-2211.
Documentation of Training
The Office of Research Compliance monitors completion of the CITI modules and will contact you if not completed promptly. Documentation of both online and face to face trainings are maintained by the Office of Research Compliance. You may also print for your own records a completion certificate from CITI. A copy of this certificate should be maintained by the student or postdoctoral researcher should there be any question concerning the completion of this requirement.
Questions?
If you have questions or concerns please contact Stephen Kamper, Research Compliance
Coordinator by phone at 607-777-3822 or by email at skamper@binghamton.edu. You can also contact Nancy Lewis, Assistant Vice President of Research Compliance
by phone at 607-777-3532 or by email at nlewis@binghamton.edu
