HRPP Training Requirements
Research Security Training
Research Security Training is a critical component of a robust research program, ensuring the responsible conduct of research and safeguarding sensitive information and intellectual property.
The U.S. National Science Foundation, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense, is sharing online research security training for the research community. This training provides recipients of federal research funding with information on risks and threats to the global research ecosystem and the knowledge and tools necessary to protect against these risks.
Research Security Training is required as part of the National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33) from 2021 and the CHIPS (Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors) and Science Act of 2022.
Starting October 1, 2025, the "Research Security Training" course
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Frequently Asked Questions
Covered individuals, as defined by each federal agency, must complete the Research Security Training prior to submitting proposals for federal awards.
The definition of a Covered Individual given in the Terms and Conditions of the funding notice, award, amendment, etc. supersedes definitions that might be found elsewhere. Implementation timelines for this training requirement vary by federal funding agency; please see the Specific Federal Agency Implementation Timelines section on this page.
"Covered individuals" - key study personnel who are required to complete the Research Security Training AND meet one or more of the following criteria:
- TTUHSC faculty, staff, students, postdoctoral scholars, or TTUHSC affiliate researchers serving as principal investigator, co-principal investigator, or key personnel on a federally funded research project (including subawards).
- TTUHSC personnel designated as covered individuals by a federal research agency.
- TTUHSC personnel supporting federal contracts/awards with access to regulated data (controlled unclassified information, HIPAA, genomic, etc.).
- TTUHSC personnel involved in export-controlled projects. Most TTUHSC research is not subject to export control regulations, which apply to research on specific technologies that could be used for military purposes and items listed on the United States munitions list.
- TTUHSC personnel working on a federal agency contract/award requiring Operations Security (OPSEC) training.
The required Research Security Training should be completed within 30 days of being appointed as a covered individual on a research project.
CLICK HERE to log in to CITI and complete the "Research Security Training (Combined)" course.
Training is valid for one year, per the CHIPS and Science Act. Most federal agencies will require annual certifications.
Training must be completed by the covered individuals before OSP can submit federal research proposals (including subawards).
Under the CHIPS and Science Act signed into law on August 9, 2022, federal agencies had 12 months to establish an annual research security training requirement. The implementation timelines given by federal funding agencies are listed below, and are subject to change.
DOE – Beginning on May 1, 2025, all DOE Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFOs) will include a requirement for all covered individuals to complete research security training to submit a proposal. Covered individuals from recipients or subrecipients who are added to an existing DOE award that includes the research security training requirement must also complete the training.
NSF – The NSF’s requirement will become effective with the implementation of the 2025 NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The 2025 PAPPG is anticipated to take effect in October 2025. The NSF will require that all individuals designated as senior/key personnel on a proposal complete research security training. Individuals will certify in the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support documents that they have completed training.
NIH – Effective October 1, 2025, recipients must implement trainings, in addition to maintaining a written and enforced policy, on requirements for the disclosure of other support to ensure Senior/Key Personnel fully understand their responsibility to disclose all resources made available to the researcher in support of and/or related to all of their research endeavors, regardless of whether or not they have monetary value and regardless of whether they are based at the institution the researcher identifies for the current grant.
USDA - The Secretarial Memorandum dated July 8, 2025, directs a Department wide review of existing arrangements with foreign entities, establishes a justification process for establishing new arrangements, and enhances research security. As a term and condition of entering into an arrangement with USDA related to research and development (R&D) or science and technology (S&T), one of the requirements is that applicants must certify that research security training has been completed not more than one year prior to the date of application and must recertify annually for the duration of the award.
DOD, NASA – Effective date TBD; These agencies have not yet detailed how or when they plan to comply with the research security training requirement of the CHIPS and Science Act.
Resources for Research Security Training
Click on each tab for more information regarding Research Security Training.
Benefits of Research Security Training
Protection against risks: Training helps researchers guard against theft or misuse of research data, improper
use of intellectual property, and dissemination of untrustworthy scientific results.
Promoting responsible collaborations: Research Security Training promotes responsible international collaborations and a positive culture of research security.
Upholding research integrity: It helps maintain the integrity of the research process by preventing misconduct and other forms of scientific dishonesty.
Safeguarding national security: Research Security Training is crucial for safeguarding the U.S. research enterprise from foreign interference and other security threats.
Overview of Research Security Training
Introduction to Research Security
Learn key concepts of research security and how to recognize situations that may indicate
undue foreign influence. Understand the regulatory landscape that shapes research
security and discover what you can do to safeguard the core values that underpin U.S.
academic research.
The Importance of Disclosure
Learn about federal funding agency disclosure requirements, including types of information
that must be disclosed, how that information is used, and why such disclosures are
fundamental to safeguarding the U.S. research enterprise from foreign government interference
and exploitation.
Risk Mitigation and Management
Learn to identify types of international collaborative research and professional activities,
associated potential risks, and strategies and best practices for managing and mitigating
such risks. Learner experience will be customized based on their role as either a
researcher or administrator.
The Importance of International Collaboration
Learn about the role of principled international collaboration in U.S. science, innovation,
and economic competitiveness. Discover how to balance principled international collaboration
with research security concerns and foster an open, welcoming research environment
that fulfills research security needs.