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https://research.utexas.edu/ors/human-subjects/irb-contacts/.
Students (under the supervision of a faculty member) can do a class project or pilot study on their dissertation topic BEFORE their proposal is approved.
However, students can never begin any research, even recruitment, before receiving IRB approval for which the faculty sponsor/Principal Investigator (PI) must sign.
For further IRB support, please contact the Office of Research Support and Compliance and/or the Principal Investigator (PI) faculty member of the study.