The federal government is in the process of implementing research security programs to protect federally funded research from foreign interference. As a result, federal agencies are now requiring investigators to complete research security training within the 12 months preceding the date a grant application is submitted. NIH, NSF, DOE, and USDA have each issued guidance mandating this training. Similar requirements from other agencies are expected to follow shortly. Accordingly, the Office of Sponsored Programs will begin enforcing the research security training requirement for all federal proposals submitted on or after October 1, 2025.
We will update this page as other federal agencies implement training requirements.
Why is training required?
The U.S. government provides significant support for basic and applied research to a variety of research institutions and programs. Some foreign governments have demonstrated an increased threat to the open and collaborative nature of the U.S. research and development (R&D) enterprise. Therefore, the federal government continues to take steps to protect the investment in R&D. As a result of that effort, federal agencies have been directed to require investigators to take an annual training on research security before submitting applications for funding.
Who must take the training?
Principal investigators, co-investigators, and individuals designated as senior/key personnel on a federal proposal must take the training. These “covered individuals” contribute in a substantive, meaningful way to the scientific development or execution of an R&D project proposed to be carried out with an award from a federal agency.
Additional personnel may be required to complete the training in the future.
Where can the training be completed?
Federal agencies recognize the NSF SECURE Center’s consolidated training module as meeting research security training requirements. The training will take approximately one hour to complete.
The training is available to Syracuse University personnel via the MySlice portal. Instructions are as follows:
- Log into your MySlice portal.
- From the Employee homepage, click on the “Employee Resources” tile depicted by an umbrella:
- From there, click on the “Faculty/Staff Training” tile depicted by a book:
- In the Syracuse University Training Portal (Vector), if you are a “covered individual” the Research Security Training may already be assigned to you and so will appear in your “My Assignments” queue:
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- If the Research Security Training module is not already in your “My Assignments” queue, click the “Extra Training” or “View Library” link and search “research” to find “Research Security Training”:
[screenshot to come]
When must training be completed?
Investigators must complete research security training within the 12 months preceding the date a federal proposal is submitted.
Federal agency policies
NIH to require training for senior/key personnel on “other support” disclosure (07-17-25)
Beginning Oct. 1, 2025, NIH grant recipients must provide training for faculty and researchers identified as senior/key personnel on the agency’s new policy requirement to disclose all research activities and affiliations (active and pending) in the “other support” section of grant applications. The Research Security Training (Combined Course) covers the importance of disclosures.
NSF to require research security training (07-10-25)
Beginning Oct. 10, 2025, NSF will require principal investigators, co-investigators and other senior/key personnel to complete research security training within the 12 months preceding the date a grant application is submitted.
USDA training requirements pending (07-08-25)
DOE is first agency to require research security training (04-11-25)
As of May 1, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requires all principal investigators, co-investigators and other senior/key personnel to complete research security training within the 12 months preceding the date a grant application is submitted.
Federal guidance for funding agencies
National Security Presidential Memo 33 (NSPM33) was issued in January 2021. The memo directs agencies to focus on improving research security in several areas, including research security programs at research institutions.
The National Science and Technology Council of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released guidance for implementing NSPM33 on Jan. 4, 2022. The document provides agencies with guidance on implementing research training programs. The Council on Government Relations has provided an overview of the July 2024 OSTP “Guidelines for Research Security Programs at Covered Institutions.”
The CHIPS and Science Act is legislation that was signed into law in August 2022. The legislation includes authorization for funding in the area of semiconductors. In addition, the act also has many research security provisions, including training requirements. The Council on Governmental Relations (COGR) has provided a summary of those research security provisions.