Research Security Training

  • Researchers submitting grants to some federal agencies will soon be required to take a research security training.
  • To help our researchers meet these requirements, UI is providing a new training program.
    • The training is available now.
    • The training will be available through the CITI course – Research Security Training (Combined).
    • The course will take approximately 45-60 minutes to complete.

What are the federally required research security trainings?

Four federal agencies require research security training for researchers submitting funding proposals: 

  • The Department of Energy (DoE) requires key/senior personnel to certify that they have completed research security training prior to submission of funding applications.
    • DoE requirement start date: May of 25, 2025.
  • The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires key/senior personnel to certify that they have completed research security training prior to submission of funding applications.
    • NSF requirement start date: Oct. 8, 2025.
  • The National Institute of Health (NIH) requires that key/senior personnel complete training on the requirement for disclosures in the “other support” section of funding applications.
    • NIH requirement start date: Oct.1, 2025.
    • We anticipate that the NIH will require full research security training in the near future.
  • The Department of Defense (DoD) may require research security training as part of their mitigation actions when reviewing potentially moderate to high-risk funding proposals. They determine the level of risk using a risk decision matrix they developed. 

How is the UI responding to these requirements? 

  • The UI’s Research Security Program Committee (RSPC), the Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) and the Research Integrity & Security Office (RISO) have identified a CITI course, Research Security Training (Combined), that is approved by these federal funding agencies to meet the requirement for training.
    • The CITI course takes approximately 45-60 minutes to complete.
  • RISO and DSP will track compliance with the training requirement.

How often are researchers required to take these trainings? 

  • The DoD: once.
  • DoE: once.
  • NSF: requires certification that training has been completed within a 12-month period prior to submission. Therefore, researchers must take the training no more than once a year
  • NIH: once, but future guidance/information could change that.

Contacts

Mike Andrews

Mike Andrews

Title/Position
Director of Research Integrity and Security
Research Security Officer
Research Integrity Officer
photo of Shelly Campo

Shelly Campo, PhD

Title/Position
Assistant Research Integrity Officer (ARIO) and Graduate College Associate Dean for Administrative Affairs
Kevin Zihlman portrait

Kevin Zihlman

Title/Position
Research Integrity and Security Specialist

Allegations of research misconduct are serious in nature and confidentiality for all parties involved must be and will be maintained.

Reports can be made to the individuals listed above, the Vice President for Research, or the Provost.