Institutional Research Board

Welcome to the Institutional Research Board (IRB) Web site. IRB ensures compliance with National Louis University’s policies and procedures for conducting ethical research involving human participants.

Every research investigator involved in any aspect of human subject research at NLU must submit a protocol to IRB that includes appropriate application forms, and informed consent documents. This applies to faculty and staff, doctoral students, masters students conducting thesis research, or large action research projects. Students conducting research as part of a class, and faculty and staff collecting institutional data for self-study and accreditation are not required to submit a protocol.

STEPS TO COMPLETING AN IRB APPLICATION

1. Ensure you have current certification in the Protection of Human Subjects in Research. You can obtain this by taking the online training provided by the Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI), hosted by NLU and also available to over 325 institutions and organizations around the world. Please see the link to the CITI training below.
2. Decide what type of review your application should receive. Please see the link to the Decision Guidelines below.
3. Complete the IRB application using the forms provided.
4. Submit all IRB-related questions, completed application forms, and all supporting materials via email to IRBMailbox@nl.edu.

Timeframe:  From the completion of application to receiving your approval letter
Exempt & Expedited IRBs- Up to 30 days
Full Review IRBs- Over 30 days

This IRB Web site is comprised of 7 sections:

1. IRB Forms
2. IRB Decision Guidelines (Is your study Exempt, Expedited or Full Review?)
3. CITI Training Materials
4. IRB Policy
5. Informed Consent Information and Examples
6. Resources
7. FAQs

IRB Members

Shaunti Knauth, Ph.D.
IRB Chair
Director of Engaged Research, Provost Office
shaunti.knauth@nl.edu
(312) 261-3526

Carla L. Sparks, Ed.D.
IRB Co-Chair
Faculty Lead for Educational Leadership Programs, Florida
National College of Education (NCE)
CSparks3@nl.edu
(813) 928-6889 

G. Maxx Shawlee, MSc.
IRB Coordinator
Faculty Support, Provost Office
IRBMailbox@nl.edu
(630) 874-4117

Linsey M. Sabielny, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Assistant Professor 
Program Director | Applied Behavior Analysis 
College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (CPBS)
LSabielny@nl.edu
(847) 947-5509

Rob Morrison, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University Library
Rob.Morrison@nl.edu
(312) 261-3372 

Valerie Buckley, Psy.D.
Assistant Professor 
Program Director | School Psychology, Florida
National College of Education (NCE)
VBuckley3@nl.edu
(904) 708-4963

Elizabeth Lane, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (CPBS)
ELane3@nl.edu
(813) 286-8087

Jacqueline Callery, Ed.D.
Associate Professor 
Program Chair, MS Business Data Analytics
Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSBL)
JCallery@nl.edu
(312) 261-3296

Stuart Ives Carrier, Ph.D.
Associate Professor 
School of Advanced Professional Programs
National College of Education (NCE)
SCarrier@nl.edu
(847) 947-5017

Blanca Gamez-Djokic, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor 
Teaching & Learning (EDD)
National College of Education (NCE)
bgamezdjokic@nl.edu
(908) 531-5583