Mandatory Completion of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training, Research Security Training, ORCID Registration and Conflict of Interest Disclosure by October 1, 2025

In accordance with federal mandates and Auburn University policy, all individuals engaged in research activities — faculty, staff and students — are required to complete the following by October 1, 2025:

• Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Training (required since August 2022)
• Research Security Training (anticipated completion time – 1 hour)
• Registration for an ORCID ID (only required for individuals serving as Senior/Key Personnel)
• Completion or updating (if necessary) of the annual AU Conflict of Interest Disclosure required (for all full-time employees since October 2019, with submission through Endeavor required since January 2024.). If you filed a disclosure in 2025 and it is up-to-date, then there is no need to update further until 2026.

Failure to complete these requirements by October 1 will result in a pause in the submission of any extramurally-funded proposal for those involved until these requirements are met.

Grounds and Guidance for Requirements

Federal Policy and Guidance

Said training requirements are based on the following:

1) National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) and related guidance from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), which mandate research security programs at federally funded institutions.

2) Agency-specific mandates, including:

• Department of Energy: Research security training required for proposals submitted on or after May 1, 2025.
• National Institutes of Health: Research security training required for proposals submitted on or after October 1, 2025. “Other Support” training (pursuant to NOT-OD-25-133) in development within CITI. Details are to be provided at later date.
• National Science Foundation: Research security training required for proposals submitted on or after October 10, 2025.
• USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture: RCR training required for all grant participants.

Auburn University Policy and Guidance

Per Auburn’s Office of Research Integrity & Compliance (ORIC), all research personnel —regardless of funding source — must complete the CITI AU Basic RCR Training for ALL Faculty, Staff, Postdocs, and Students every three years. This requirement has been in place since August 2022. This includes:

• Faculty (including administrators)
• Staff (e.g., accountants, grant specialists, technicians)
• Students (graduate and undergraduate)
• Postdoctoral researchers

All full-time employees must complete a Conflict of Interest (COI) disclosure online annually via Endeavor ERA . New interests, activities, or relationships must be reported in Endeavor ERA within 30 days of acquisition. Please visit https://www.auburn.edu/administration/oacp/dicp/conflictofinterest.php for more information.

Additionally, Auburn’s Office of Research Security Compliance (ORS) oversees the implementation of research security training in accordance with federal guidelines and Auburn University’s Policy on Research Security Program Compliance.

ORCID ID Requirement



All Senior/Key Personnel on Federal award (or proposing to Federal agencies) must register for an ORCID ID. These digital persistent identifiers (PIDs) are increasingly required by federal agencies, publishers, and research institutions to ensure transparency and interoperability in research systems. The Auburn University Libraries has a webpage dedicated to ORCID and can provide guidance as needed.

Compliance Instructions

• RCR and Research Security Training: Complete via the CITI Program at https://www.citiprogram.org/portal?site=964. Use your true auburn.edu email and not an alias email to ensure training credit. Required course is entitled “Research Security Combined Course.”

• ORCID Registration: Visit https://orcid.org to create your ID.

• Deadline: All requirements must be completed by October 1, 2025.



For assistance, please contact:

• RCR Training: Karoline Austin or Milly Tye.

• Research Security: Office of Research Security Compliance (ORS Website)

• ORCID ID: Patricia Hartman, Auburn University Libraries

Every member of our research community - faculty, staff, and administrators - plays a vital role in ensuring compliance with federal regulations and institutional policies. This shared commitment isn’t just about meeting requirements; it’s about positioning Auburn University to compete at the highest levels for federal funding.

Thank you for your continued commitment to research integrity and compliance!