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Training

Research Security Training via myHR Learn

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  • The federal government is requiring research security training for those receiving or applying for federal funding. This mandate stems from President Trump’s National Security Presidential Memo-33 (2021) and the CHIPs and Science Act (2022). Researchers have two training options:  (1) a one -hour  Northwestern-developed training meeting specific criterion or (2) a four-hour course developed by the NSF.  Training must be completed by the time of proposal submission. For questions, please contact the Export Controls & International Compliance team.

    Northwestern one hour training:  Access the Northwestern Research Security Training here. This one-hour training course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of research security. The training focuses on mitigating risks associated with foreign interference, proper disclosure of research information, international travel & shipping, cyber threats, and much more! The training will help you:

    1. Describe why research security is important for the U.S. Research and Development enterprise and what constitutes improper foreign interference and undue foreign influence.
    2. Understand the importance of non-discrimination as a guiding principle of U.S. research security policy and the value of and challenges with international collaboration.
    3. Know why and how to disclose relationships and the proper use of funds.
    4. Identify, manage, and mitigate risk, particularly in the context of foreign talent programs.
    5. Understand responsible international travel practices and some export controls (shipping and OFAC sanctioned countries).
    6. Be familiar with intellectual property and data protection requirements and best practices, including basic cyber security.

    If you have any questions, please contact the Export Controls and International Compliance team. Thank you!

    You can also review the Research Security Training Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
  • NSF four hour training:  The U.S. National Science Foundation, in partnership with the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense, created research security training for the research community. This training provides recipients of federal research funding with information on risks and threats to the global research ecosystem — and the knowledge and tools necessary to protect against these risks. Access the training here in myHR Learn and get NU credit.

Research Security Training Update

Over the past year, covered personnel—including Principal Investigators and Senior/Key Personnel—were required to complete Research Security training. If you were required to take the training, it was assigned to you in myHR Learn, but the training is available to anyone who wishes to complete it. Because this is an annual requirement, we are introducing an abbreviated “refresher” version so that you do not have to take the entire course every year. You will receive a reminder from myHR Learn when your refresher training is due. The refresher training offers flexibility by allowing you to either watch the videos for each section or skip directly to the quiz questions. If you miss any questions in a given section, you will be required to watch the video for that section and retake the quiz until you answer all the questions correctly. This approach is designed to reduce administrative burden while ensuring compliance. For technical issues related to the training, please submit an IT ticket to your local IT team or to NUIT if they manage your computer. For general questions about the training, contact exportcontrols@northwestern.edu

Export Control Training

Many different university activities involve export controls or international compliance. Export control regulations impact certain equipment, technical data, substances; international shipments; and what you take with you or access when you travel abroad. Northwestern offers multiple trainings and resources to learn more about how export controls impact your university activities.