Research Security Training Course Details

Course Requirements

Who should take this course?

U-M faculty, students, staff, and others (e.g., contractors, visitors, external collaborators) are required to take the Research Security Training course when they are:

• Identified as a "covered individual" (typically senior/key personnel) on a sponsored grant, contract, or subcontract for which the sponsor requires research security training.


• Specifically identified by the U-M Research Security Program and/or the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP) as requiring the training per sponsor guidelines to work on a research grant, contract, or subcontract.

Currently, certain sponsors (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Energy) require research security training to be completed within 12 months prior to submitting a funding proposal. Always check the terms and conditions of the proposal for any such training requirements.

How much time does this course take to complete?

Expect to spend approximately 1 hour completing this course. To receive certification in this course you must review all of the course pages. There is not a scored assessment associated with this course.

Do I need to renew certification in this course?

U-M requires certification in Research Security Training  every three years if you are working on a sponsored project subject to the federal research security regulations. Certification is renewable by re-taking the course.

Certain sponsors (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Energy) may require research security training certification more frequently (e.g., annually). If you are working on a DOD or DOE contract or subcontract, follow the sponsor’s terms and conditions for training.

Additional Information

This course is a combined and condensed version of the four NSF Research Security training modules. U-M accepts certificates of completion for the NSF training or the CITI version of this condensed course as an equivalent to U-M's course.  

See U-M's International Engagement Federal-wide Research Security Efforts webpage for further information about research security training requirements and options.

Course Outline

The topics covered in the Research Security course are:

• Research security introduction
  • Research security definition
  • Researcher responsibilities
• Key federal regulations
• Core values of academic research that support research security
• Importance of disclosure for research security
  • Disclosure definition
  • Conflict of Interest vs. Conflict of Commitment
  • Activities, affiliations, and support to be disclosed
  • Non-disclosure consequences
• Behaviors that negatively impact research security
  • Non-compliance consequences