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. Domestic and international collaborations and partnerships with academic, government, industry, and nonprofit organizations are essential to advancing research and innovation.
As the research environment continues to evolve, investigators and research institutions are increasingly subject to requirements related to transparency and disclosure, international research, research information protection and cybersecurity, export controls, and other research security responsibilities.
The Office of Research Security (ORS) administers the University's Research Security Program and assists researchers in identifying and addressing applicable requirements 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.
ORS services include:
- Research security consultations and reviews.
- Sponsor and institutional disclosure guidance.
- International research reviews and guidance.
- Export control and sanctions compliance.
- Research information protection and cybersecurity guidance.
- Government and other protected research information reviews.
- Sponsor-specific research security guidance.
- Research security training and educational resources.
- Coordination with University offices on research security requirements.
VIEW RESEARCH ACTIVITIES & GUIDANCE
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 Research
Supporting responsible international research and collaboration while helping researchers identify research security, sponsor, disclosure, export control, and other requirements that may apply to international activities.
International research may include collaborations, foreign-sponsored research, international visitors, international appointments, international travel, research agreements, data sharing, and other cross-border research activities.
LEARN MORE — INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH
Research Information Protection & Cybersecurity
Helping researchers identify requirements for protecting research information and implementing appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
Requirements may arise from sponsor terms, contracts and agreements, government information requirements, export controls, privacy requirements, controlled-access data, cybersecurity standards, and other federal or institutional requirements.
LEARN MORE — RESEARCH INFORMATION PROTECTION & CYBERSECURITY
Export Controls
Providing guidance regarding U.S. export control laws and regulations governing the transfer, release, shipment, transmission, access, or use of equipment, materials, software, technology, technical information, and services.
ORS also provides guidance regarding sanctions and embargoes, restricted entity screening, international shipments and transfers, international travel, export-controlled research information, and other export compliance requirements.
Research Security Training
Training and education are important components of Stony Brook University's Research Security Program.
ORS provides research security training and educational resources to help faculty, staff, students, and research administrators understand research security responsibilities and applicable University and sponsor requirements.
Training may include required research security training as well as educational programs addressing specific research security topics.
VIEW RESEARCH SECURITY TRAINING
Federal Research Security Requirements
Federal agencies have established research security requirements intended to promote transparency, safeguard federally funded research, protect research information and 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 National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33), federal research security program requirements, and applicable sponsor requirements.
The University's Research Security Program coordinates activities related to disclosure and transparency, international research, research information protection and cybersecurity, research security training, export controls, and other sponsor-specific research security requirements.
Program Coordination
Research security is a shared institutional responsibility and may require expertise from multiple University offices.
ORS coordinates with University partners, as appropriate, to identify and address requirements throughout the research lifecycle. Depending on the activity, coordination may include offices responsible for:
- 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
esearch security depends on collaboration among investigators, departments, schools and colleges, and University administrative offices.
Investigators are responsible for conducting research in accordance with applicable sponsor requirements, University policies, agreements, and federal regulations. ORS provides guidance, consultation, review, and institutional coordination to help researchers understand and meet applicable research security responsibilities.
Learn More About Research Security Roles and Responsibilities
Need Assistance?
Contact the Office of Research Security when planning a research activity or when questions arise regarding research security, international research, disclosure requirements, research information protection and cybersecurity, export controls, or sponsor requirements.
Early consultation can help identify applicable requirements before proposals are submitted, agreements are finalized, information is received, or research activities begin.