Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research

The responsible and ethical conduct of research (RECR) is critical for excellence, as well as public trust, in science and engineering. RECR involves not only a responsibility to generate and disseminate knowledge with rigor and integrity, but also a responsibility to: 

• Conduct peer review with the highest ethical standards.
• Diligently protect proprietary information and intellectual property from inappropriate disclosure.
• Treat students and colleagues fairly and with respect.

Education in RECR is considered essential in the preparation of future scientists and engineers.

The following pages detail NSF's guidance on conducting research in an ethical, legal and responsible manner.

Conduct of research and research compliance

• Conflicts of Interest
• Research Involving Human Subjects
• Research Involving Vertebrate Animals
• Research Security
• Update on NSF Policy on Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC)

Proposals and the merit review process

• Merit Review
• Panelist Conflict of Interest Training
• Proper Scholarship and Attribution in Proposals
• Transparency and Accountability

Research results and sharing

• Broader Impacts
• Dissemination and Sharing of Research Results
• NSF Public Access Initiative
• NSF Public Access Repository
• Preparing Your Data Management and Sharing Plan

Treating colleagues with respect and fostering a harassment-free environment

• Office of Equity and Civil Rights
• Safe and Inclusive Working Environments for Off-Campus or Off-Site Research
• Stopping Harassment and Assault

Scientific integrity and research misconduct

• Research Misconduct Regulation (45 CFR 689)
• Office of Inspector General (OIG) Procedures for Research Misconduct Investigations
• Scientific Integrity at NSF

Opportunities supporting research, education, or other activities that have responsible and ethical conduct of research components include but are not limited to:

• Dear Colleague Letter: Fostering Harassment-Free STEM Education, Research, and Workplace Environments
• Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI): Biocomputing through EnGINeering Organoid Intelligence (BEGIN OI)
• Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2)
• Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT)
• Science and Technology Studies (STS)

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine resources: 
  • Fostering Integrity in Research
  • On Being a Scientist
  • Reproducibility and Replicability in Science
  • The Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM
  • Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
• Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science
• Science.gov: Scientific Integrity
• U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA): Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health: Responsible Conduct of Research Training
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Research Integrity: General Resources