SHP Academic Policies

Graduate Students Involved in Research

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Responsible Executive
Associate Dean for Research

Responsible Office
Office of Research

Date Adopted

Date(s) Amended 
2/2/2026

Last Reviewed
2/2/2026

Purpose

Consistent with its mission of promoting scholarship and the development of professional-level research expertise, the School of Health Professions (SHP) supports its Master’s and Doctoral level students to be involved in research.

Many Master’s candidates must complete an evidence-based Capstone Project under the direction of a committee chaired by a SHP Faculty member as a requirement for graduation. The project is the culmination of knowledge gained in students’ graduate coursework and provides an opportunity to demonstrate an analytical approach to the identification and resolution of real-world research problems.

Completing an IRB Review process and responsibly conducting research are essential parts of the graduate students’ training in how to conduct ethical, scientifically valid work. This policy establishes procedures to ensure that graduate students and their Committee Chairs adhere to University policies regarding research and IRB protocols.

Accountability

  1. The Associate Dean for Research, the Assistant Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs, and the Department Chairs and Program Directors are responsible for the implementation of this policy.
  2. It is the responsibility of Masters and Doctoral candidates and their Committee Chairs/Faculty mentors to adhere to this policy. Training on the responsible conduct of research in health care settings is an important component of a well-trained Masters- or Doctoral-level students’ education and a component of appropriate supervision.

Applicability

This policy applies to all graduate students enrolled at SHP in Master’s or PhD programs who are initiating a research project involving human subjects in partial fulfillment of their degree requirements, as well as to their Committee, Faculty mentors, Program Directors, and Department Chairs.

Definition

IRB: Unless otherwise mandated, SHP students shall utilize the Rutgers’ Institutional Review Board (IRB).

M.S.: Refers to Master of Science.

Ph.D.: Refers to Doctor of Philosophy.

Pl: Refers to Principal Investigator or the person accepting the leading scientific role and ethical responsibilities involved in conducting a research project.

Protocol: Refers to the document approved and on file with the IRB that describes the methods and procedures for protection of human subjects in the student’s graduate research.

Policy

Students from Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Schools may not serve as Principal Investigators.

Procedures

SHP students involved in human subjects research are required to review the IRB Office of Research student handbook:

  1. 1.004 (HRP-105) Manual – Student Handbook: A Guide to Human Research Protection in Research

Policy Dissemination to Graduate Faculty

Copies of this policy and the Student Handbook will be posted on the SHP Research webpage and distributed to all Department Chairs to distribute as needed.

Additional helpful related items for graduate students: