Research Security Training: Guidance for Institutions and Researchers
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Table of Contents
Who Needs Research Security Training?
What Do Federal Agencies Say About Research Security Training?
CITI Program Research Security Courses
How Should Institutions Decide?
Overview
To comply with emerging federal mandates, institutions must ensure that covered individuals involved in federally funded research complete appropriate Research Security Training (RST). This guidance outlines training options available through CITI Program that align with requirements from the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, NSPM-33, and federal funding agency directives.
Who Needs Research Security Training?
Training is required for “covered individuals,” defined as those who contribute in a meaningful way to the development or execution of federally funded research. Federal agencies may interpret this requirement to include researchers, project personnel, and senior/key staff.
What Do Federal Agencies Say About Research Security Training?
Many federal agencies require research security training. Organizations may use various research security training options, including the NSF or SECURE Center versions, CITI Program’s version, or their own. The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 indicates that modules should focus on cybersecurity, international collaboration and travel, foreign interference, proper use of funds, disclosure, conflict of commitment, and conflict of interest, and should meet the needs of senior/key personnel, students, postdoctoral researchers, and SBIR/STTR applicants.
CITI Program Research Security Courses
CITI Program offers a range of training options to meet these requirements:
| NSF SECURE Center Courses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Title | Duration | Content Highlights | Best For |
| Research Security Training (Combined) | 1 hr (1 module) | Condensed version of NSF training. Note: Includes the SECURE Center Consolidated Training Module (CTM). Recognized by federal agencies as compliant with their respective Research Security Training requirements. | NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, NASA, and USDA compliance requirements |
| Research Security Training | 4 hrs (4 modules) | Covers disclosure, collaboration, and risk mitigation | Original NSF-funded research security training |
| Research Security Training (Combined) Refresher | 30 min (1 module) |
Refresher version of the combined course | Annual refresher aligned with combined training NSF, NIH, DOE, DOD, NASA, and USDA compliance requirements |
| RCR Research Security Training | 10–30 min | High-level overview | Supplement to RCR training |
| CITI Program Courses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Title | Duration | Content Highlights | Best For |
| Research Security: A Basic Course | 20–30 min | High-level overview | Supplement to RCR training |
| Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher) | 15–20 min | Refresher version of the basic course | RCR refresher training |
| Research Security Advanced Refresher | 20–30 min per module (8 modules) | In-depth modules on all core topics | Annual refresher with deeper content |
Note: Research Security: A Basic Course, Research Security: A Basic Course (Refresher), and Research Security Advanced Refresher address the NIH other support disclosure training requirement. Institutions may also add custom modules for institution-specific training.
How Should Institutions Decide?
When selecting training, institutions should consider:
- Applicable agency policies (DOE, NSF, etc.)
- Institutional research risk profile
- Culture of compliance and training fatigue
- Whether refresher or modular delivery is beneficial
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