We are excited to announce the launch of NICER (NICE-Regional), a new pilot initiative by Psi Chi. This initiative is designed to enhance research quality and increase contributor engagement within the broader international NICE program. This year, NICER will specifically focus on the Eastern region of the United States. How NICER Works: NICER is a separate program from NICE, conducted only within the Eastern region, with its own research protocol, administration, and schedule. It will help us evaluate and improve key aspects of the NICE program, such as: - Advancing open science methods: We will assess how effectively NICE promotes transparency and reproducibility in research. - Enhancing faculty research design courses: We will evaluate how NICE impacts the quality of research instruction and curriculum development for faculty. - Improving student understanding of IRB protocols: We will evaluate how well students grasp and apply ethical research principles through NICE projects.