On Research - with CITI Program

Antarctica is one of the most challenging places on Earth to conduct research, where changing weather, remote field sites, and limited access to assistance can turn routine activities into complex safety decisions. In this episode, Dr. Simon Morley and Stephanie Martin share firsthand experiences from the British Antarctic Survey, discussing how researchers prepare for the unexpected, manage risk in isolated environments, and build teams that can respond effectively when conditions change. Their stories highlight lessons that extend far beyond polar research, offering practical takeaways for anyone involved in research planning, safety, or leadership.

Notes:

• On Tech Ethics – A CITI Program Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2120643 
• Safe Research Environments– A CITI Program Course - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/safe-research-environments/ 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog  

This episode explores how accessible research ethics education can support more meaningful participation in research. Dr. Katherine McDonald and Dr. Ariel Schwartz discuss the development of Research Ethics For All, a training program created with and for people with developmental disabilities, and examine how accessible ethics education can strengthen understanding, trust, inclusion, and ethical research partnerships. The episode also features research partner and steering committee member Jacob Meyers, who shares his perspective on the value of including people with disabilities as members of research teams. Together, the guests highlight the responsibilities of researchers, IRBs, and institutions in ensuring that all research partners have the knowledge and support needed to contribute effectively. 

Notes: 

• On Campus – A CITI Program Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1896915/ 
• Research Ethics for All – A CITI Program Course - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/research-ethics-for-all-re4all/ 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog  

In this special episode of On Research, host Alexa McClellan travels to Belmont Manor and Historic Park in Howard County, Maryland—the site where the Belmont Report was drafted nearly 50 years ago. Through conversations with regulators, research professionals, IRB leaders, research participants, and descendants of those impacted by the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, this episode explores the lasting influence of the Belmont Report's principles of Respect for Persons, Beneficence, and Justice. Join us as we reflect on the history that shaped modern human research protections, examine the role of trust and trustworthiness in research today, and consider why the Belmont Report remains as relevant as ever. 

Notes: 

• On Tech Ethics – A CITI Program Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2120643 
• Bioethics – A CITI Program Course - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/bioethics/ 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog  

In this episode of On Research, host Alexa McClellan speaks with Jim Gould, Director of Postdoctoral Affairs at Harvard Medical School and co-host of Propelling Careers, about what it takes for early-career scientists to thrive in today’s research environment. Together, they explore funding uncertainty, burnout, career flexibility, resilience, mentorship, and the skills researchers need to build sustainable and fulfilling careers. Whether you're a trainee, postdoc, or research professional, this conversation offers practical insights for navigating change while maintaining purpose and research integrity. 

Notes: 

• Propelling Careers Podcast – https://open.spotify.com/show/6zaZCQ7lScgHepGl0D7LFq 
• Protocol Development & Execution: Beyond a Concept – A CITI Program Course - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/protocol-development-execution-beyond-a-concept/ 
• On Campus – A CITI Program Podcast -  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1896915/ 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog  

In a moment of uncertainty across the research landscape, what does it mean to lead with clarity, integrity, and hope? In this episode of On Research, Dr. Josh Fessel shares insights from his experience at the NIH to unpack shifting federal priorities, growing instability, and the real risks of inaction. Together, we explore how researchers and institutions can navigate change, rebuild trust, and stay grounded in science’s core purpose: serving people. Thoughtful, timely, and ultimately hopeful—this conversation offers a roadmap for moving forward when the path isn’t clear. 

Notes: 

• Conflict Management – A CITI Program Course - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/conflict-management/ 
• On Tech Ethics – A CITI Program Podcast -  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2120643 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog  

Technology transfer offices are increasingly on the front lines of research security—and the rules are changing fast. In this episode of On Research, we’re joined by Allen DiPalma and Kevin Wozniak from the Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) to unpack COGR’s Research Security Guidance for Technology Transfer and what it means for protecting innovation while still supporting collaboration. 

Notes: 

• Council on Governmental Relations (COGR). 2025. “Research Security Regulations: Practical Considerations for Technology Transfer Professionals.”  - https://www.cogr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-11/Research%20Security%20Regulations%20Practical%20Considerations.pdf
• Technology Transfer – A CITI Program Course - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/technology-transfer/ 
• On Campus – A CITI Program Podcast -  https://www.buzzsprout.com/1896915/ 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog  

What does meaningful child assent really look like in research? In this episode of On Research, host Alexa McClellan speaks with Dr. David Coker about rethinking child assent beyond procedural compliance. Drawing on his recent scholarship, Dr. Coker explores gaps in current practices, regulatory tensions, inclusion of children with disabilities, and the role of IRBs in supporting assent as a developmentally appropriate, ethical process. The conversation challenges researchers to move from collecting assent as a formality to practicing it as a genuine expression of respect for children’s autonomy and voice. 
 

Notes: 

• Coker, David C, Ketaki Inamdar, Daniel F. McCleary, and Lesley Cottrell.  2025. “Child Assent Practices in Research: Improving Ethics, Decision-Making, and Inclusivity.” Journal of Educational Research & Practice. 15:1-24. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1492202.pdf 
• Qualitative Data Analysis – A CITI Program Course - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/qualitative-data-analysis/ 
• On Tech Ethics – A CITI Program Podcast -  https://www.buzzsprout.com/2120643 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog  

When studies end abruptly, the ethical responsibilities don’t disappear. Dr. Brandon Brown joins host Alexa McClellan to examine institutional responsibility, participant protection, and research integrity when research is terminated unexpectedly—and what the end of a study reveals about trust in the research enterprise. 
 

Notes: 

• Dr. Brandon Brown. “Your Study Is Terminated: Researchers Need to Prepare Participants.” The Hastings Center for Bioethics. November 19, 2025.  https://www.thehastingscenter.org/your-study-is-terminated-researchers-need-to-prepare-participants/ 
• On Campus – A CITI Program Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1896915/
• Disaster Response and Research Reactivation – A CITI Program Course - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/disaster-response-and-research-reactivation/ 
• Dr. Brandon Brown’s CITI Program Author Page - https://about.citiprogram.org/authors/brandon-brown-mph-phd/  
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog 

In this episode of On Research, we explore how service dogs and advocacy are transforming accessibility for scientists with disability in STEM. Guests Joey Ramp-Adams and Madeline Jones share their lived experiences, discuss barriers in laboratory environments, and highlight how inclusive practices can create more equitable pathways in research. 
 

Notes: 

• Sampsons Legacy Foundation - https://sampsonslegacyfoundation.com/  
• Working with Dogs in Research Settings – A CITI Program course -  https://about.citiprogram.org/course/working-with-dogs-in-research-settings/ 
• On Tech Ethics – A CITI Program Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2120643 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog  

As artificial intelligence accelerates its influence on medicine and science, the real challenge is no longer whether AI is worth its cost—but how we choose to use it. In this episode, Dr. Catherine Bielick and Dr. Leo Anthony Celi examine how AI is transforming biomedical research and medical education, exposing deep flaws in legacy systems while offering a chance to rethink how knowledge is created, taught, and governed. 
 

Notes: 

• On Campus – A CITI Program Podcast - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1896915/ 
• CITI Program’s course catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog