“The tool makes it easy to find research training based on the roles and responsibilities of all members that comprise a research team including faculty, professional staff, technicians, and students,” said Randolph Hall, vice president of research at USC.

Training in research compliance can be a daunting task given the number of university, state, and federal requirements that promote the safe, ethical, and effective conduct of research. Finding and fulfilling the requirements for each individual on a research team is not always straight-forward. And failure to get it right can limit research privileges for individual researchers, departments and entire institutions.

To address this growing challenge, the USC Office of Research and the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) teamed up to develop the new USC Research Training Finder, an electronic tool that lets research team members find and complete the research compliance courses and certificates that they need.

The tool includes the minimum training requirements for research team members, such as training in research participant protections, grants management, and lab safety. It also highlights recommended courses to help them expand their skills.
 

“This tool is something that is much needed.”

- Craig Okumura, Organizational Learning Systems Manager, USC Talent Management

“The Research Training Finder is great, very simple to use.”

- Dagoberto Muniz, Assistant Director, Systems and Operations, Talent Management at USC

Features of the Research Training Finder include:

• Access to nearly 40 research training opportunities
• Capability to match roles (e.g., principal investigator, study coordinator) with required and suggested training
• Sortable by online vs. classroom formats
   

“We need to develop a translational research workforce that is skilled at all levels, from the PI to staff and students. This project is a first step toward achieving this goal,” said Thomas Buchanan, MD, vice dean for research at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and director of SC CTSI. “We plan to use this platform to expand training opportunities as we go forward.”