The UO is deeply committed to freedom of inquiry and the advancement of knowledge. The institution remains steadfast in its commitment to international collaboration and in its stance against national origin discrimination.
Over the past several years, Congress and numerous federal agencies have raised concerns about inappropriate foreign influence on research and scholarship conducted at U.S. universities.
To address risks to research security, National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) requires institutions that receive more than $50 million per year in federal science and engineering support for the previous two fiscal years to operate a research security program.
As specified in NSPM-33 final implementation guidance, a research security program must include:
- A cybersecurity program consistent with the National Institute of Standards and Technology guidance
- Foreign travel security that includes periodic training for covered individuals and reporting requirements
- Research security training for covered individuals and an institution's certification of individuals' completion of such training
- Export control training for covered individuals who perform research and development involving export-controlled technologies and processes for reviewing foreign sponsors, collaborators, and partnerships
Under the final implementation guidance, federal research agencies may develop additional requirements for research security programs beyond the four elements above.
Guidance for International Collaborations and Activities
The UO remains steadfast in its commitment to international collaboration while also complying with the changing landscape of federal regulations. Ultimately, these regulations help our research and scholarship to be truly open and free from bias or undue influence.
Learn More About International Activities
What is Research Security?
NSPM-33 interim implementation guidance defines research security as activities to safeguard “the research enterprise against the misappropriation of research and development to the detriment of national or economic security, related violations of research integrity, and foreign government interference.”
Cybersecurity
The UO Information Security Office provides information security services to the UO community, including vulnerability scanning, security consulting, and incident response.
Some sponsored research may require additional cybersecurity controls. The Export Control Officer and Sponsored Projects Services monitor terms and conditions to help flag additional controls that may be required and communicates this information with the principal investigator. Please contact the Export Control Officer if you believe your research project needs additional security measures.
Foreign Travel Security Training
As directed by National Security Presidential Memoradum-33 (NSPM-33), principal investigators (PIs), co-principal investigators (co-PIs), senior/key personnel, program directors (PDs), co-program directors (co-PDs), project managers, and anyone else identified in the request for proposals, notice of funding opportunity, or award terms and conditions must complete Foreign Travel Security Training if they travel internationally for organization business, teaching, conference attendance, or research purposes, regardless of whether the travel will be charged to a sponsored project.
Who Is Required to Take the Training: Principal investigators (PIs), co-principal investigators (co-PIs), senior/key personnel, program directors (PDs), co-program directors (co-PDs), project managers, and anyone else identified in the request for proposals, notice of funding opportunity, or award terms and conditions who travels internationally for business, teaching, conference attendance, or research purposes.
How Often is Training Required?: Every 6 years
When Does Training Need to Be Completed?: Prior to international travel
How Long Does Training Take?: 1 hour
How Do I Access the Training?: The training will be available in MyTrack Learning beginning March 2025
Research Security Training
Effective May 1, 2025, principal investigators (PIs), co-principal investigators (co-PIs), senior/key personnel, program directors (PDs), co-program directors (co-PDs), project managers, and anyone else identified in the request for proposals, notice of funding opportunity, or award terms and conditions must complete annual Research Security Training. This requirement stems from National Security Presidential Memoradum-33 (NSPM-33) and is enacted by federal agencies.
Who Is Required to Take the Training: Principal investigators (PIs), co-principal investigators (co-PIs), senior/key personnel, program directors (PDs), co-program directors (co-PDs), project managers, and anyone else identified in the request for proposals, notice of funding opportunity, or award terms and conditions
How Often is Training Required?: Annually
When Does Training Need to Be Completed?: Prior to submitting a proposal
How Long Does Training Take?: 1 - 1 1/2 hours
How Do I Access the Training?: The training is available in MyTrack Learning
Export Control Training
Effective May 1, 2025, researchers on sponsored awards who perform research and development involving export-controlled technologies must complete export control training.
The Export Control Officer and Sponsored Projects Services monitor terms and conditions to identify researchers who have this training requirement. This requirement stems from National Security Presidential Memoradum-33 (NSPM-33) and is enacted by federal agencies.
The UO uses the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) to administer the required training. Download our step-by-step guide for adding the Export Compliance Course. You're also welcome to email us, and we can add it for you. The course will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.
CITI offers instructions on how to affiliate the University of Oregon with your account if you have not already done so. If your account is not associated with the UO, we cannot confirm your required course completion.
Who Is Required to Take the Training?: Principal investigators (PIs), co-principal investigators (co-PIs), program directors (PDs), co-program directors (Co-PDs), project managers, and anyone else identified in the request for proposals, notice of funding opportunity, or award terms and conditions who conduct research with export-controlled technologies
How Often is Training Required?: Annually
When Does Training Need to Be Completed?: Prior to submitting a proposal
How Long Does Training Take?: 30 minutes
How Do I Access the Training?: Download our step-by-step guide for adding the Export Compliance Course in CITI
Login to CITI with Your Duck ID
Research Security Program Contacts and Report a Research Security Concern
The research security program contact is General Counsel and Assistant Vice President for Research Integrity Jessica Price.
To report a research security concern, click the button below. Then, navigate to "Research" and select "Export Controls."
Disclosure and Digital Persistent Identifiers (DPIs)
The federal government and federal funding agencies have identified researchers’ disclosure and transparency about relationships with and funding support from outside entities, especially those outside the U.S., as critical to research security.
All researchers must annually disclose outside activities and financial interests to the UO under the Financial Conflict of Interest in Research Policy. They must also disclose outside activities and research support, including support that may be non-monetary such as honorific titles, to the research sponsor via a biosketch, current/pending support document, and/or other support document. Some research agencies are also requiring a digital persistent identifier (DPI), such as ORCID.
Researchers must be accurate and consistent in these disclosures, particularly if they include activities with a foreign entity or government. Please be aware that researchers are prohibited from being part of a malign foreign talent recruitment program.
All UO employees, regardless of whether they receive federal funding, must disclose outside activities and interests if that activity is not exempt under the Conflict of Interest, Conflict of Commitment, and Outside Activities Policy.