Research Security Menu
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Research Security Training
Updated January 13, 2026
How to Comply with Research Security Training Requirements
Choose the option that applies to you.
Complete the Initial Training for the First Time
The initial one-hour Research Security Training course is available in the Learning Resource Network (LRN) via the link directly below. You will only need to take this course once.
College of Medicine users: navigate to the course link above in an incognito window. For more information, please visit: Log In to Penn State Systems (webpage).
Penn State Health users: if you cannot log in, you may not have an LRN account; email orp@psu.edu and please include your nine-digit Penn State ID number.
Wait for Your Annual Refresher Assignment
If you have already completed the initial one-hour Research Security Training, there is no further action required from you at this time.
Your annual renewal is a separate, 15-minute refresher course that will be automatically assigned to you before your current training expires.
Important: Do not retake the initial 1-hour course. It will not count as your renewal.
Not Sure if You Took the Training? Find Your Completion Status on Your LRN Transcript
Check your official training status on your Learning Resource Network (LRN) Transcript. This will tell you if you have a valid completion on file for the required Research Security Training and the date you completed it.
Your LRN Transcript is the sole source of truth for your Research Security Training status.
Research security training is mandated for individuals involved in federally funded research by U.S. federal regulations such as the CHIPS and Science Act and National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33). These policies are are designed to safeguard the integrity of the U.S. research enterprise against foreign government interference and exploitation.
In response, Penn State is implementing a Research Security Training Requirement.
Effective October 1, 2025
For All New Federal Proposals (At the Proposal Stage)
Pre-submission Verification: All Penn State personnel named on a federal funding proposal must have completed the applicable Research Security Training (initial or refresher) in the LRN within the 12 months prior to proposal submission.
Automated Compliance: The Internal Approval Form (IAF) will automatically check the LRN to verify your training status. Proposals will not be submitted unless all named personnel have met the training requirement.
For All New Federal Awards (After an Award is Made)
Post-award Compliance: All personnel supported by a new federal award (including graduate students and staff added after funding) must complete the applicable Research Security Training (initial or refresher). These individuals will be identified through University systems and automatically assigned the training in the LRN.
Your Annual Refresher Training is Automatic
To ensure your Research Security Training remains current, the annual renewal process is managed for you by the Office for Research Protections (ORP).
There is no action required from you to register. You do not need to find or enroll in the annual refresher course.
The LRN will automatically assign the 15 minute “Research Security Training: Annual Refresher” course to you 30 days before your current training expires. You will receive an email notification from the LRN at that time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who needs to take this training?
All Penn State personnel named on a new proposal for federal funding submitted on or after October 1, 2025.
All individuals supported by a grant or award (including students) will be assigned the Research Security training in the LRN. The training must be completed within 30 days of being added to the grant or award.
How often do I need to take the training?
The training is required annually. After completing the initial one-hour Research Security Training, you will automatically be assigned the annual refresher training in the LRN. You will receive an email notification from the LRN at that time.
What about Co-Investigators at other institutions?
I can't log in to the LRN. What should I do?
If you are having trouble logging into the Learning Resource Network (LRN), please review these common issues and solutions before contacting support.
Step 1: Start Here: Standard Login
All Penn State employees have an account in the LRN. To log in, please use the Single Sign-On (SSO) option with your Penn State email address (e.g., xyz123@psu.edu) and password.
Step 2: Are You College of Medicine or Penn State Health?
If you cannot log in and you work at the College of Medicine:
- Open an incognito or private browser window.
- Log in using your Penn State account credentials (e.g., xyz123@psu.edu), not your Penn State Health email.
For detailed, step-by-step instructions please visit: Log in to Penn State Systems
Step 3: You May Need an Account: Request Assistance
If you have tried the solutions above and still cannot access the LRN, you may be in a category where an account needs to be manually created or reactivated. This can apply to:
- Some Penn State Health Employees who work at the College of Medicine who do not yet have an LRN account.
- Graduate Students who are are named on a proposal but are not currently paid through a grant or award.
- Retirees named on a proposal whose LRN accounts are inactive.
If you are in one of these groups, please email the ORP at orp@psu.edu for assistance.
How do I register for the annual renewal? I don't see the course available in the LRN
You do not need to register for the renewal. The process is automated and managed by the Office for Research Protections (ORP). The LRN will automatically assign the annual refresher course to you 30 days before your current training expires.
I already took a similar training at another institution. Do I still need to take this one?
I have my PDF certificate. Can I just email it to my Research Administrator as proof?
No. Your LRN Transcript is the sole source of truth for your training completion date. PDF certificates will not be accepted as proof of completion.
Why is this training suddenly required?
This is not a new University policy, but a direct response to a federal mandate from the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. To ensure Penn State remains eligible for federal funding, we must comply with this federal law.
Federal Agency Requirements
- National Science Foundation (NSF): For information on the training requirements for NSF-funded researchers, please see NSF No. 149.
- Department of Energy (DOE): For information on the the training requirements for DOE-funded researchers, please see DOE FAL 2025-02.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): For information on the the training requirements for USDA-funded researchers, see MEMORANDUM SM 1078-014. USDA also incorporated their Research Security Training (RST) requirement into their Terms and Conditions (effective 12/31/2025).
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): For information on the training requirements for NSF-funded researchers, please see NIH Notice NOT-OD-26-017 (effective 5/25/2026). Penn State’s research security training satisfies the NIH Other Support training requirement as outlined in NOT-OD-26-017.
- NASA: For information on the the training requirements for NASA-funded researchers (effective August 5, 2025) see NASA GIC 26‑02, Research Security Requirements.
COGR Matrix of Science & Security Laws, Regulations, and Policies
COGR has developed a comprehensive chart that summarizes and compares federal laws, regulations, and policies in the area of science and security: COGR Matrix of Science & Security Laws, Regulations, and Policies.
Research Security Training Content
The Research Security Training was developed by the NSF SECURE Center and is a condensed and consolidated version of four federal research security training modules that was developed via a cooperative agreement funded by The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and Department of Energy. Penn State has modified the training to add University specific content where applicable. The training focuses on the following four critical questions:
- What is research security and why is it an important issue?
- What is a disclosure policy and how will it be used?
- What actions can federally funded research recipients take to manage and mitigate risk?
- Is international collaboration encouraged?
This research security training is required by the U.S. Federal government and benefits both individual researchers and the institution by promoting responsible research practices that protect the U.S research enterprise.
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The Office for Research Protections (ORP) ensures that research at the University is conducted in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines that protect human participants, animals, students, and personnel involved with research.