#  NEW! Research Security Training for Covered Individuals 

 





December 12, 2024

 

 

Dear Research Administrators,

Recently, Harvard launched the creation of a new Research Security Program. Research Security training is listed as one of four elements of a Research Security Program required by the National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM 33), issued on Jan. 14, 2021, to safeguard our research ecosystem. The "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022" codified this training requirement for federal research award personnel into law on August 9, 2022.

Under the law, **Covered Individuals** (e.g., PIs, Co-PIs, key/senior research personnel or anyone meeting the definition of “Investigator”) are required to complete Research Security Training as a condition of federal research funding.

The Office of Vice Provost for Research (OVPR), together with representatives from across the University, has developed a Harvard-specific instance of Research Security training, to facilitate compliance with these federal requirements. Harvard’s training provides a high-level overview of the security aspects of **International Collaborations, Cybersecurity, International Travel and Federal Disclosure Requirements** (the federally required components of Research Security training), case studies and links to Harvard resources. It has been tested, reviewed, and edited by Faculty PIs and compliance officers from across the University, to ensure its clarity, relevancy, and compliance with federal requirements. The training will be assigned to Covered Individuals beginning on January 31, 2025 and available through the Harvard Training Portal. Additional information about the training and how to access it is available in the [Research Security Training FAQs](https://links.repoint.harvard.edu/els/v2/x_eysWpr0LCy/dlVPWDEwZUxxdVVKQ09CYVdyUWlOQ1dTOHRydE5xY2Zva2IrSFArbzdRSlo0RFpDVUhUUGlMVzJaN3Q5S0hFSGFBZko4NkpTQkFTTkYvVThkM0tjQjA0c3ZHdU5zbStCbUhQWmRvSWVob2s9S0/).

**All Covered Individuals** who are participating in federally funded sponsored research on or after **January 31, 2025** at Harvard University are required to take Harvard’s Research Security Training.

In addition to the training and [Research Security Training FAQs](https://links.repoint.harvard.edu/els/v2/x_eysWpr0LCy/dlVPWDEwZUxxdVVKQ09CYVdyUWlOQ1dTOHRydE5xY2Zva2IrSFArbzdRSlo0RFpDVUhUUGlMVzJaN3Q5S0hFSGFBZko4NkpTQkFTTkYvVThkM0tjQjA0c3ZHdU5zbStCbUhQWmRvSWVob2s9S0/), updates were made to the [GMAS Research Team Guidance](https://gmas.fss.harvard.edu/research-team) to incorporate this requirement. Research Administrators are not obligated to complete the Research Security training, but the training and accompanying resources are readily available for their review.

If you have any questions about this new Federal funding requirement or Harvard’s implementation, please refer to the FAQs and supplementary documents, or contact Melissa Lopes, Senior Research Compliance Officer, OVPR, at [melissa\_lopes@harvard.edu](mailto:melissa_lopes@harvard.edu).



 

 

 



 

 See also:- [ Alerts ](/blog-categories/alerts)
- [ Announcements ](/blog-categories/announcements)
- [ Federal Funding ](/blog-tags/federal-funding)
- [ Sponsored Research ](/blog-tags/sponsored-research)
- [ training ](/blog-tags/training)