Institutional Review Board: Student Conducting Research

In consultation with your faculty advisor, you will complete a research proposal and the IRB Request For Review Form.Your faculty supervisor can help you determine whether you must submit your research proposal for review by the IRB, in addition to the Request for Review Form.

Your advisor must be the one to initiate your IRB review by forwarding the Request for Review form to your school or college representative on the IRB.

By forwarding the form, your advisor indicates that he or she approves of the project as outlined in your research proposal and the IRB submission form. The names and e-mail addresses of the current members are provided on left.

For most research proposals (e.g., projects that do not involve vulnerable populations and that represent minimal risk to subjects), the IRB makes every attempt to return proposals within 10 to 14 days of submission. However, during particularly busy periods additional time may be necessary, so plan ahead. The IRB does review submissions during the summer and school holidays, but may require additional time.

If a project raises particular issues that the IRB feels are not adequately addressed in the submitted materials, the researcher may be asked to submit additional information, clarify a point, or make revisions. To reduce delay, these changes are usually solicited electronically. However, on rare occasions, the researcher (and faculty supervisor, if appropriate) may be asked to appear before the IRB to resolve matters of procedure, etc.

When the IRB approves the proposed research, electronic notice will be provided to the student's faculty advisor. You may not begin to collect data from human subjects before you have received approval of the project from the IRB.