Dear Geographers,

Most of you already know this, but if you don't, I want to let you know that I am the Departmental Review Coordinator (DRC) for your IRB application process, in case your research involves human subjects.  As such, please make sure you put my name at the space implied for the DRC on your IRB applications and also put Dr. Alderman's name and email, etc. on your IRB applications. When you submit these via iMedRris, your application gets routed to me for my review for compliance, and then after I sign it off, it will be reviewed and signed off by Dr. Alderman.

Those unfamiliar with the IRB steps, processes, issues/ethical practices in conducting human subjects research, etc. -- I strongly urge you to kindly visit UTK's research website and make yourself familiar with the same.  Those planning to submit an IRB in the near future must make sure that you have completed the CITI modules and have submitted your CITI Certificate on your IRB web account.  If your CITI certificate is not up to date, your IRB approval may not be reviewed by me and it can delay your full review and approval by UTK IRB office. 

The Office of Research and Engagement conducts regular training and workshops to help UT scholars with various aspects of conducting and implementing ethical practices in research, especially when it involves humans subjects, or private data. Please visit the site http://research.utk.edu/training-workshops/citi/accessing-citi-online-compliance-training/ for more information on various training/workshops, the CITI modules and other relevant information. You may want to sign up for some of these workshops to educate yourself with the IRB and the application preparation and submission process. 

Best regards,

Madhuri