Research Security
Research security, , safeguards the research enterprise from actions that could harm national security or economic competitiveness.
In practical terms, this means that research security protects the U.S research enterprise from theft, foreign interference, and ethical violations.
Training is required on specific topics (Research Security, Export Control, and Conflict of Interest) and completed training certificates must be uploaded with Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø’s annual Conflict of Interest and Research Security Disclosures Form (formerly Disclosure of Financial Interest).
Find out what this means for researchers at Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø.
- Research security training is mandated for individuals involved in federally funded research by U.S. federal regulations such as the and (NSPM-33). These policies are designed to safeguard the integrity of the U.S. research enterprise against foreign government interference and exploitation.
- Federal funding agencies are now implementing these training requirements. For the most current and detailed information, please see the specific agency announcements below.
- Visit our CITI Compliance Training page for information about which CITI certificate satisfies this federal training requirement.
- Export controls are federal regulations that restrict the sharing or shipment of
certain sensitive technologies, data, software, and materials to protect national security and foreign policy interests. Export control regulations can impact international collaborations; working with international faculty, staff, students, and visitors in the US; travel; publications; and the handling of specific information or items used in your research projects. - Compliance with these regulations also require that Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø will not host visitors, enter into contracts, do business, or engage in any activity with entities listed on a Restricted Party List without prior approval of the Office of Sponsored Programs.
- Is your research subject to Export Control regulations? View Â鶹ÊÓƵ¹ÙÍø’s Export Control Policy and decision tree to help make a determination.
- Training and disclosure requirements
- – Basic training videos from the Bureau of Industry and Security about the Department of Commerce Export Administration Regulations.
- Required Modules:
- Export Controls: A Quick Start Guide
- Export Controls: Classifying Your Item
- Specially Designed?
- Deemed Exports
- Reexports and Offshore Transactions
- Training and disclosure requirements
- Disclosure management is a critical component of research security as it ensures transparency regarding researchers’ affiliations and financial interests. It is important to disclose outside activities and interests as well as Other Support/Current & Pending Support to comply with U.S. federal regulations.
- Before submission of a grant proposal and each year of an active grant, researchers and their research teams are required to submit Research Compliance Disclosures. These disclosures encompass:
- Financial Conflict of Interest
- Conflict of Commitment
- Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs
- Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs
- Research Security Training
- Export Control Training
- Conflict of Commitment
- Financial Conflict of Interest
- The U.S. Government has enacted the following federal directives and legislation regarding disclosures, research security program requirements, and training.
- 2024 – OSTP Research Security Program Guidelines
- 2022 –
- 2021 –
- 2019 -
- Agency-Specific Documents
- NIH –
- NIH -
- NIH -
- NSF –
- Additional Resources
- , Joint Committee on the Research Environment, National Science and Technology Council, January 2021.
- , Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Georgetown University, November 2020.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, July 2020.
- , US Senate, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, November 2019.