Fall 2025
All lectures are on Fridays from 1pm-2pm
| Title | Presenter | Date & Location | Zoom Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Presentation | N/A | Friday, September 12, 2025 | link not available* |
| RCR & Conflicts of Interest - This presentation explores key aspects of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) with a focus on ethical decision-making in the research environment. Topics include data integrity, authorship and publication practices, mentoring responsibilities, and collaborative research. Special emphasis is placed on identifying and managing Conflicts of Interest (COI)- including financial, professional, and personal interests-that may compromise objectivity or credibility. Researchers will gain practical insights into institutional policies, federal regulations, and best practices for maintaining transparency and trust in the research enterprise. | Sean Rubino | Friday, September 19, 2025 | Join here |
| Lab Safety in the Laboratory - Lab Safety is an important part of an effective and efficient research laboratory at Texas State University. This session will cover the basics of physical and health hazards in the labs. The importance of training and what's available at Texas State. How to minimize the risk of exposure to laboratory hazards. How to respond to emergencies in the lab and how safety can complement research. | Chad Thomas | Friday, September 26, 2025 | Join here |
| Protection of Human Subjects - This training provides researchers with essential guidance on ethical standards and regulatory requirements for conducting research involving human participants. Topics include informed consent, risk minimization, IRB protocols, and participant privacy. Researchers will gain practical knowledge to ensure compliance with federal regulations and uphold the highest standards of research ethics. | Michelle Davis & Dr. Joni Mettler | Friday, October 3, 2025 | Join here |
| Managing Research Data: "A Guide to Good Practice" This lecture introduces the essential principles and practices of Research Data Management (RDM) to help researchers effectively manage their data throughout the research lifecycle. Participants will gain a foundational understand of how to plan, organize, and preserve research data in alignment with institutional and funder expectations. | Dr. Xuan Zhou | Friday, October 10, 2025 | Join here |
| How AI May Relate to Designing & Conducting Your Research - Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming research across various fields by enabling the analysis of large datasets to identify patterns, make predictions, and even discover new knowledge that might be beyond human capability. This lecture will discuss how AI can effectively analyze large datasets, identify patterns, generate insights, and streamline the literature review process. | Dr. Emily Summers | Friday, October 17, 2025 | Join here |
| Mentoring - The foundation of robust and successful research is built on effective research mentoring relationships. In the interactive session, we will discuss principles of effective research mentoring, the effects of positive mentoring relationships, and resources for improved mentored training. By the end of this session, participant will be able to: Explain the roles and responsibilities of mentors and mentees. Identify challenges that can disrupt or undermine a mentoring relationship. Describe practices and strategies that support high-quality mentoring relationships and help prevent or manage conflicts between mentors and mentees. Describe leadership behaviors that cultivate a psychologically healthy and supportive work environment. | Dr. Sean Kerwin | Friday, October 24, 2025 | Join here |
| Navigating Team Science: Collaborative Research as Responsible Conduct - This will be an interactive session exploring the critical aspects of Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) within collaborative projects. Modern science is based on partnership, but successful collaborations require more than just shared goals - they demand a shared commitment to integrity. * Setting the Foundation: how proactive communication, clear roles, and early discussions about data sharing, authorship, and intellectual property can prevent future disputes. * Navigating the Dynamics: best practices for ongoing data management, ethical mentoring of trainees in joint project, and managing emerging conflicts of interest. * Dissemination & Beyond: ensure fair authorship, responsible publication, and know how to address potential misconduct when working across teams and institutions. Drawing on general requirements from the NSF, NIH, and USDA, this interactive session is designed for Texas State's graduate students, postdocs, and faculty in STEM and Health Sciences. We will discuss two case studies to apply these above RCR principles to real-world scenarios. | Dr. Alexander Kornienko | Friday, November 7, 2025 | Join here |
| RIC Special-Research Security & Compliance Updates - This session provides researchers with critical updates on federal and institutional requirements related to research security and compliance. Topics include safeguarding sensitive research data, foreign influence and disclosure obligations, export controls, and cybersecurity best practices. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of evolving compliance expectations and practical steps to ensure their research activities align with current regulations and institutional policies. | Sean Rubino | Friday, November 21, 2025 | Join here |
Spring 2026
| Title | Speaker | Date & Location | Zoom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifecycle of an Award -This session provides an introductory overview of the research proposal submission and award administration process at Texas State. | Alex Smith & Sharon Birdsong | Friday, February 6, 2026 | link not available* |
| Cyber Security - Join us for an engaging session that focuses on simple actions to enhance your digital security! In our increasingly digital world, cybersecurity is more crucial than ever. This session will emphasize the importance prioritizing cybersecurity in both personal and professional contests. Learn practical strategies to protect yourself online, understand common threats, and discover how to foster a culture of security in your community. | Toni Frank | Friday, February 13, 2026 | link not available* |
| Social Implications of Science and Technology - An opportunity to consider the positive and negative societal effects of scientific discoveries and technological advancements. Participants be introduced to three analytical frameworks (Precautionary Principle, Research and Innovation as Social Experimentation, Implicit/Intrinsic Values); will reflect on why researchers should consider the broader dimensions (social, ethical, environmental, etc.) of their work; and will examine the claim that researchers have an obligation to actively engage in mitigating harms while maximizing benefits for society. | Dr. Craig Hanks | Friday, February 20, 2026 | link not available* |
| Publication Practices and Responsible Authorship - Learn about the ethical guidelines and standards researchers must follow when disseminating their research findings through publications, ensuring that authorship is accurately attributed to those who made substantial contributions to the work and that the published results are presented honestly and completely. Key items to be discussed will be authorship criteria, avoiding “honorary authorship”, data integrity, and the peer review process. | Dr. Karen Lewis | Friday, February 27, 2026 | link not available* |
| The Peer Review Process - In the peer review process, scholars’ manuscripts and funding proposals are reviewed and assessed by other qualified experts in their field. Learn how reviewers evaluate a manuscript’s quality, significance, and how it aligns with the goals of the journal or funding source. Attendees will become acquainted with the specific issues related to peer review, and how to address them and apply the lessons learned to their own research and scholarship. | Dr. Karen Lewis | Friday, March 27, 2026 | link not available* |
| Research Misconductt - This session examines the definition, scope, and consequences of research misconduct, including fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism. Researchers will learn how to recognize unethical practices, understand institutional and federal reporting procedures, and explore strategies for fostering a culture of integrity in research environments. The presentation emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making throughout the research lifecycle. | Dr.Michael Blanda | Friday, April 3, 2026 | link not available* |
| Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) - This session provides an overview of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and its role in promoting ethical and compliant research involving animal subjects. Researchers will lean about federal regulations, protocol review processes, humane care standards, and the ethical principles guiding animal research. The presentation emphasizes the importance of transparency, oversight, and responsible conduct in maintaining public trust and scientific integrity. | Maria Reaves & Dr. David Rodriguez | Friday, April 10, 2026 | link not available* |
| Collaboration with integrity: Lessons from the National Science Foundation and Institute of Education Sciences -This is a great primer for all students, post-docs, and faculty to become orientated with the ethical and practical dimensions of managing multi-institutional research collaborations. Come join us to discuss the ethical implications and discuss the key strategies for fostering transparency, managing diverse funding requirements, and building successful, ethically sound research partnerships. | Dr. Li Feng | Friday, April 17, 2026 | link not available* |
| Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)The Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) plays a crucial role in reviewing and approving research projects that involve potentially hazardous biological materials, such as recombinant DNA, infectious agents, and toxins. This oversight ensures compliance with federal regulations and protecting researchers, the environment, and public safety. This talk will discuss the NIH Guidelines, biosafety levels, risk assessments, protocol review process, required training for researchers handling biohazards, and proper containment procedures within a research laboratory setting. | Monica Gonzales, Elsie Romano, & Dr. Hong -Gu Kang | Friday, April 24, 2026 | link not available* |