The Office of Research and Innovation at USC is at the forefront of advancing our research initiatives. We support faculty, students, and researchers in building research skills, managing campus research policies, and overseeing internal and external research projects. We also assist in securing external funding, foster partnerships with various communities, and promote the dissemination of research benefits.
Vision
The Department of Research and Innovation (DRI) seeks to foster an attitude of excellence in scholarly inquiry within the community of the University of the Southern Caribbean.
Mission
To serve the community by providing an environment for excellence in scientific and innovative research endeavours and academic/creative scholarship.
Our Goals
- To develop a strong community of scholarly researchers.
- To foster innovative research strategies and applications in various disciplines across the
- University of the Southern Caribbean.
- To encourage innovative scholarship that transforms the intellectual capacity of the university community into extraordinary scholars and servants of God.
- To disseminate innovative knowledge and scholarship locally, regionally, and internationally.
Services we Provide
- Grant-Writing: Connect with funding agencies, develop grant proposals, and facilitate publication.
- USC Institutional Review Board (IRB): Approve research projects within the USC community and the local region.
- Training Sessions: Enhance research skills through training on literature review, research design, data analysis, report writing, presentation techniques, ethics, and integrity.
- Publication: Publish research in the USC Journal of Research, a peer-reviewed scholarly journal.
- Networking and Collaboration: Collaborate with local, regional, and international research institutes and institutions.
- Research Support: Access support through Writing Lab sessions and personalised assistance.
- Innovative Research Forums: Engage in monthly Academic Forums to share groundbreaking research and innovative ideas.
Collaboration
The University of Southern Caribbean Institutional Review Board (IRB)
The IRB safeguards the rights, privacy, and dignity of all research participants. Its mission is to ensure compliance with internationally recognised ethical principles.
Key Functions:
- Education, review, approval, and monitoring of research projects.
- Mandatory Research Ethics Training via CIRTification Online (University of Illinois, Chicago).
- Step‑by‑step IRB approval process, including submission of consent forms, instruments, and certificates. Access Forms Here.
IRB Leadership:
- Chairperson: Dr Susan Chand
- Co‑Chairperson: Dr Dave Cassie
- Secretary: Makeda Thomas
- Members: Dr Jeremiah Eaton, Dr Cyril Marshall, Dr Terencia Joseph, Mrs Feona Charles, Dr Grace Eversley‑Jacott
Steps to Obtaining IRB Approval
- Education, review, approval, and monitoring of research projects.
- Mandatory Research Ethics Training via CIRTification Online (University of Illinois, Chicago).
- Step‑by‑step IRB approval process, including submission of consent forms, instruments, and certificates. Access Forms Here.
Complete Mandatory Research Ethics Training via CIRTification Online (University of Illinois, Chicago) and save your certificate.
Gather all required documents and complete with your supervisor. Access Files Here.
Submit all files for review. A complete application form and supporting documents must be submitted here.
Expect preliminary feedback within 2 weeks and an approval letter within 30 days.
Research Activities:
- Annual USC Research Conference – Showcasing diverse research fields, fostering collaboration, and translating findings into action.
- Webinar & Seminar Series – Highlighting faculty and staff research, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, and supporting student projects.
- Publications Record (Coming Soon) – A comprehensive archive of faculty and staff research outputs.
The Office of Research and Innovation at the University of the Southern Caribbean is affiliated with the following:
- Professional Development Institute
- USC Research Association
Meet the Team
Director of Research, Contracts & Grants
Administrative Assistant
Makeda Thomas
Research Ethics Training
Every researcher undertaking research involving human subjects must undertake our Research Ethics Training prior to conducting any research study.
Therefore, in collaboration with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science of the University of Illinois, Chicago, The University of the Southern Caribbean is pleased to provide CIRTification Online.
CIRTification Online is a free, web-based human research protections training program tailored specifically to the needs and roles of those within our research community. .
This fully online course introduces learners to the basics of the research – the terminology, people, and methods. It also reviews the historical abuses which have developed current ethical principles, rules, and regulations.
This training program covers covers standards and best practices for
- Recruitment and informed consent
- Collecting and protecting data
- Handling challenges that may arise during participant interactions
- Reviews the role of the institutional review board in protecting the right and safety of research participants
- Includes a dictionary of research terms and a toolbox with resources related to human research protections
You can register here to undertake this course
DATA COLLECTION CAN ONLY BEGIN AFTER THE DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH & INNOVATION GIVES NOTICE OF USC IRB APPROVAL.
IRB Form and Consent Form Templates
You can access all the relevant forms for processing of IRB applications here
Click here to access the online IRB form
Research Activities
USC Research Conference
The Annual USC Research Conference seeks to
- Present and discuss Research Findings:
- Foster collaboration:
- Translate research into action:
The Conference is usually held annually, and historically the Research day celebration has been a part of the Charter week celebrations in the month of March to commemorate the anniversary of the conferral of university status upon the beloved institution we know today as USC.
We are providing a platform every year to showcase the work being done by researchers at USC as well as abroad from diverse fields such as public health, social science, and behavioral health, along with policymakers, to explore, discuss, and innovate new approaches.
The USC Research Conference 2025: Lifestyle, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), and Innovative Research Methodologies in Health and Well-Being.Booklet is available here.
The USC Research Conference 2024: The Scientific Contribution of Religion/ Spirituality on Health and Well-Being Conference Booklet is available here.
USC Research Webinar/Seminar Series
The USC Research Webinar Series Featuring Faculty & Staff Researchers was created as a platform to highlight and share the diverse research being conducted across the University of the Southern Caribbean.
The series seeks to:
Promote awareness of ongoing research by USC faculty and staff.
Encourage collaboration across disciplines and departments.
Our undergraduate and graduate students can also benefit greatly from this series, as it provides valuable insights to support their preparation for research projects, graduate projects, and thesis defenses.
USC Research Webinar Recordings
Click here for a recording of the USC Webinar Series featuring
Mr. Rodney Rajkumar MEd, Department of Online Education and
Dr. Kerron Hislop, EdD, Faculty Member, Department of Music.
5. Record of Faculty and Staff Research Publications (Coming Soon!)