New Mandatory Research Security Training Requirement

Effective May 1, 2025, research security training is required for all Department of Energy NOFO and is soon to be mandatory for all URI Lead PIs and their Key Personnel that receive Federal Funding. *Applies to all URI Lead PIs and their Key Personnel that receive Federal Funding (this includes but is not limited to federal awards, flow-throughs, and subawards.)

Must complete: CITI’s Research Security Training (Combined) Module.

For more information about CITI’s Training Program, please visit the CITI Training website.

FAQs

  1. Is this new mandatory training a federal mandate? Yes, and URI must comply with it. National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) was a directive from President Trump that was subsequently endorsed by President Biden that remains in effect and mandates that research institutions receiving over $50 million in federal support require Lead PIs and Key Personnel to take Research Security Training. 
  1. Do URI Lead PIs and Key Personnel have to take this mandatory training even if they do not participate in a DOE, NSF, or NIH award? Yes, this training is mandatory for all URI Lead PIs and Key Personnel that receive federal funding. 
  1. Who is considered Key Personnel? This group includes, but is not limited to, PIs, Project Directors and co-investigators. Additionally, certain technical personnel, such as postdoctoral researchers or graduate students, could fall under this category if their contributions to the research are substantial.
  1. Will URI Lead PIs and Key Personnel need to certify to this new mandatory training requirement? Yes, all URI Lead PIs and Key Personnel that receive federal funding will need to certify to the training.    
  1. When do I need to certify to this new mandatory training requirement if I plan to submit a DoE proposal? DoE requires all URI Lead PIs and Key Personnel to certify to the training prior to the submission effective May 1, 2025.  
  1. Should URI Lead PIs and Key Personnel that receive federal funding – other than DoE proposals- take this mandatory training soon? Yes, Research Security training will soon be mandatory for all projects that involve federal funding and all URI Lead PIs and Key Personnel that receive federal funding will need to certify that they completed it. 
  1. How long is this mandatory training? The training is about an hour and there is a knowledge test at the end of the module. 

  2.  Do I have to take this mandatory CITI Research Security training if I have already completed all 4 of NSF’s Research Security Modules? No, if you have already completed all 4 of NSF’s Research Security Modules, you do not need to take this one hour condensed CITI Research Security training module. 
  3. Who should I contact if I have questions? For questions regarding the training, please contact URI’s Director of Research Security, carolconnolly@uri.edu or join us at the events below:
  • In-Person Office Hours:
    Tuesday, April 15th from 9:am-5pm
    URI Kingston Campus
    Research & Grant Accounting Building
     70 Lower College Road, Room 105