Resources for Students

Resources for Students

Here is a Back to School Reminder which provides a brief snapshot of what to do next if you may have projects involving human subjects.

Principal Investigator (PI) Oversight Responsibilities and Assurances 

As a Principal Investigator (PI) of a human subjects research project requiring IRB approval, there are certain responsibilities when in this role. They are outlined here

Student PI Training Requirement

Beginning in the Fall 2021 academic semester, graduate and undergraduate students serving as a Principal Investigator (PI) will be required to complete HawkIRB training prior to submitting a HawkIRB New Project form for IRB-01 (biomedical IRB) or IRB-02 (Social/Behavioral IRB). Student PIs must attend a two-part training on the HawkIRB New Project Form, a three-hour requirement. Students can attend the live/Zoom trainings OR view recorded trainings. A third HawkIRB training (Forms Submitted After IRB Approval) is not mandatory, but students are strongly encouraged to attend or view the recording. Recorded HawkIRB trainings are available 24/7 in the IRB ICON Course for Researchers. The portal to this ICON course is on the Education and Training page of the Human Subjects Office website and is available to anyone with a HawkID.

Course Related Student Project Policy Revision

If you are a student planning to conduct a course related project that involves human subjects, please review this policy to ensure that your project complies with applicable federal regulations and University of Iowa policies:


1 Policy on Course-Related Student Projects & Human Subjects Research- Located in the IRB Investigator's Guide/Standard Operating Procedure (Section I, Part 12.D)

  • conditions under which IRB approval may not be required     
  • information that must be disclosed to potential subjects

2. Checklist for Course-Related Student Projects 

  • tool to help students and course instructors determine if IRB approval may be required

3. Human Subjects Research Determination (HSRD) Form – If a determination cannot be made using the checklist above, you can submit a Human Subjects Research Determination (HSRD) form, through the electronic IRB application system (HawkIRB) to ask whether IRB approval is necessary for your project.


IRB Educational Opportunities


The Human Subjects Office (HSO) provides education and support to student researchers in a variety of methods.  If you would like to learn more about training sessions and educational opportunities for Investigators, delegates, and research team members, click here for more information about:

  • HawkIRB Training Sessions
  • Office Hours
  • Presentations
    • Research Related Topics
    • Classroom Presentations
  • IRB Display and Educational Materials

If you would like to learn more about IRB training sessions or obtain educational materials, please feel free to contact the IRB Education and Compliance Program staff.