Research Security Program
What is Research Security?
Research security promotes the openness, integrity, and security of research while supporting collaboration, innovation, and compliance with applicable federal, state, sponsor, and University requirements.
Stony Brook University (SBU) is committed to the principles of academic freedom, free inquiry, and the open exchange of knowledge that are fundamental to research and scholarship. International collaborations, interdisciplinary partnerships, and engagement with academic, government, industry, and nonprofit organizations are essential to advancing research and innovation.
As the research environment continues to evolve, investigators are increasingly subject to sponsor requirements related to transparency, research security, international engagements, research data protection, and export controls. The Office of Research Security (ORS) assists researchers in understanding these requirements and provides guidance throughout the research lifecycle.
How ORS Supports the Research Enterprise
Rather than repeating "ORS supports..." eight times, group the ideas into themes.
Research Excellence
ORS supports the University's strategic objective of growing and sustaining a world-class research enterprise through effective governance, risk management, regulatory compliance, and responsible stewardship of research activities.
Research Partnerships
ORS serves as a trusted resource for faculty, staff, students, research administrators, and institutional leadership by providing guidance that supports informed decision-making regarding research opportunities, collaborations, sponsor requirements, and compliance obligations.
Responsible Collaboration and Innovation
ORS facilitates responsible domestic and international research collaborations that advance scientific discovery, innovation, and global engagement while appropriately managing institutional, regulatory, and sponsor-related risks. ORS also supports innovation, research translation, and technology development by protecting research assets and facilitating compliance with applicable sponsor and regulatory requirements while preserving the openness and collaborative nature of academic research.
Early Engagement
ORS promotes early engagement with researchers and research administrators to identify opportunities, evaluate risks, understand compliance obligations, and develop practical compliance strategies before institutional commitments are made.
Supporting the Research Lifecycle
ORS provides guidance throughout the research lifecycle—from proposal development and international collaborations to award negotiation, project implementation, award management, and closeout.
Whether researchers are preparing a proposal, establishing a new collaboration, managing sponsor requirements during an active award, or addressing changes that arise during a project, ORS works with investigators and University partners to identify applicable requirements, evaluate potential research security considerations, and develop practical compliance strategies that support responsible research.
Services include:
- University and sponsor disclosure guidance
- International engagement reviews
- Export control and sanctions compliance
- Research data protection and secure research environments
- Research security training and outreach
- Sponsor-specific research security guidance
- Coordination with institutional partners on research security matters
Research Security Program Areas
The Research Security Program provides guidance and support across several interconnected areas.
University & Sponsor Disclosure Requirements
Promoting transparency through institutional and sponsor disclosures related to external interests, appointments, research support, international activities, gifts, and other reportable relationships.
Learn More - University & Sponsor Disclosure Requirements
International Engagements
Supporting responsible international collaborations while helping researchers identify and address research security considerations associated with international research activities.
Topics include:
- International Collaborations
- International Visitors
- International Travel
- Foreign Sponsors
- International Appointments
Learn More - International Engagements
Research Data Protection & Security
Assisting researchers with protecting research data, secure research environments, sponsor cybersecurity requirements, controlled-access research data, and other sensitive research information.
Learn More - Research Data Protection & Security
Export Controls
Providing guidance regarding U.S. export control regulations, sanctions, and embargoes involving research, technology, equipment, software, technical information, and international activities.
Research Security Training
Providing education and training to help researchers understand sponsor expectations, disclosure obligations, research security responsibilities, export controls, and international engagement best practices.
Learn More - Research Security Training
Federal Research Security Requirements
Federal agencies have implemented research security requirements to promote transparency, safeguard federally funded research, protect sensitive technologies, and support responsible international collaboration.
As a recipient of more than $50 million in annual federal research funding, Stony Brook University maintains a Research Security Program consistent with the expectations of National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) and applicable federal sponsor requirements.
The Research Security Program incorporates coordinated activities related to disclosure, international engagements, research data protection, research security training, export controls, and other sponsor-specific requirements that support federally funded research.
Program Coordination
Research security is a shared institutional responsibility.
ORS collaborates with numerous University offices to provide coordinated guidance throughout the research lifecycle, including:
- Office of Sponsored Programs Administration
- Division of Information Technology and Stony Brook Medicine IT
- Research Computing and Cyberinfrastructure
- University Counsel
- Enterprise Risk Management
- Environmental Health & Safety
- Intellectual Property Partners
- Office of Global Affairs
- Other administrative and academic offices, as appropriate
Roles and Responsibilities
Research security depends on collaboration among investigators, departments, schools, and administrative offices.
Investigators are responsible for conducting research in accordance with applicable sponsor requirements, University policies, and federal regulations. ORS provides guidance, consultation, and institutional coordination to help researchers understand and meet these responsibilities.
Learn More About Research Security Roles and Responsibilities
Contact the Office of Research Security
ORS encourages investigators to contact us as early as possible during proposal development, before initiating new international activities, or whenever questions arise regarding research security, sponsor requirements, export controls, or international collaborations.