SC&I Professor of Communication Kathryn Greene has been named a chair of the Rutgers Institutional Review Board (IRB) effective April 2024 for a defined term of three years. Rutgers University Office for Research Senior Vice President for Research Michael E. Zwick appointed Greene.
“I am honored by the nomination and pleased to contribute to the smooth functioning of research processes which are fundamental to Rutgers. I look forward to being a part of our Rutgers research functions which facilitate our contributions as a major driver of research and innovation in New Jersey, the United States, and internationally,” Greene said. Greene continued, “I’m proud to work with the leadership team and VP for Research office to leverage my research expertise in a way that provides benefit to the community.”
According to the Rutgers Office for Research, the Rutgers Institutional Review Board (IRB) is charged with the protection of the rights and welfare of human research participants and facilitating ethical research. Review by the IRB is required for research involving human participants regardless of the funding source, including research without funding.
Prior to her nomination as chair, Greene served as vice chair of the Rutgers Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) IRB as well as a member for more than 15 years. In the vice chair role, Greene participated in process changes that have had a measurable effect recently on the efficiency and effectiveness of IRB reviews for researchers across the University. As part of the executive committee team, Greene participated in implementing the refreshed eIRB+ version of the Rutgers IRB submission system, designed to “enhance the investigator experience and streamline the research proposal submission process by alleviating administrative burden and minimizing duplication of effort,” according to the Rutgers Office for Research. Other significant well-received programmatic improvements recently where Greene participated on the executive committee planning include streamlining of reviews to decrease review time as well as introduction of staff office hours and draft reviews.
Prior to her nomination as chair, Greene served as vice chair of the Rutgers Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) IRB as well as a member for more than 15 years. In the vice chair role, Greene participated in process changes that have had a measurable effect recently on the efficiency and effectiveness of IRB reviews for researchers across the University.
As the only social-behavioral scientist Rutgers-legacy chair of the IRB, Greene will work with the IRB leadership to continue implementing improvements to streamline IRB research processes for the Rutgers research community while ensuring rigorous ethics are upheld. She will attend IRB meetings, participate in the executive committee, perform reviews (initial, continuing reviews, and modifications), and provide expertise, where necessary, on complex human research issues.
Greene’s prestigious nomination to chair of the IRB is the result of not only her long-standing membership and also Vice-Chair position, but this appointment also complements Greene’s research record. This research was recognized by her academic peers at the National Communication Association (NCA) in 2023 where Greene won not one, but an unprecedented five (5) separate national awards including two distinguished book awards for “Privacy and Disclosure of HIV in Interpersonal Relationships” (Greene et al., 2003, Erlbaum), an award for Outstanding Health Communication Scholar, a Distinguished Mentor award, in addition to an award recognizing her national service with the NCA Health Communication Division’s Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Equity and Inclusion Award.
As the only social-behavioral scientist Rutgers-legacy chair of the IRB, Greene will work with the IRB leadership to continue implementing improvements to streamline IRB research processes for the Rutgers research community while ensuring rigorous ethics are upheld.
“The IRB Chairperson plays a critical role in the University’s human subjects protections program by leading efforts to manage the protection of research subjects and partnering with researchers and University administration,” according to the Rutgers Office for Research. “Chairs are a valued member of the research protection community because of this role.”
Discover more about the Communication Department at the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.
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