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NSF SECURE Center
Research Security Briefing

Vol. 2, No. 16
May 8, 2026

The NSF SECURE Center distributes research security briefings and timely alerts via its listserv. The Briefing provides a centralized resource for research security-related information, including new statutory and research funding agency requirements, new or updated federal and community resources, and significant news items and scholarly works. The Center will also assess and provide commentary, interpretation, or implementation considerations on new requirements, notices and resources, working with higher education associations, legal partners, or agencies as needed.

Briefing Contents

Research Security News, Reports & Events

Please note, articles linked below may require a subscription to view.

NSF SECURE Center cannot distribute copies of subscription-based articles.

Opinion: A value-centric approach to international collaboration
(University World News, 5/6/2026)

In this commentary, the authors examine the growing challenge universities face in balancing international research collaboration with increasing research security concerns. The piece highlights how governments around the world are strengthening policies aimed at protecting sensitive research from foreign interference, intellectual property theft, and geopolitical exploitation, while institutions struggle to preserve the openness that underpins academic research. Experts cited in the article argue that research security is evolving from a narrow compliance function into a broader institutional governance issue requiring coordinated oversight, risk assessment, and strategic decision-making.

 

The article also notes that universities are being asked to navigate a more complex global environment in which collaborations may carry national security, economic competitiveness, or reputational risks. Approaches vary internationally, ranging from restrictive partnership controls to advisory and governance-based models, but the common theme is the need for “smart openness” that balances collaboration with appropriate safeguards. (more)

Opinion: How China’s soft power acts as a ‘Silicon Curtain’
(Washington Post, 5/5/2026)

In this opinion piece, the author highlights growing concerns tied to China’s expanding role in global digital infrastructure, describing the emergence of a “Silicon Curtain” defined through procurement decisions.  Through telecommunications investments, technology exports, and financing, particularly in developing countries, China is helping shape interconnected digital ecosystems that may create long-term dependencies. These dynamics raise questions about data governance, supply chain integrity, and the potential for foreign influence over critical infrastructure.

 

The article suggests that the primary risk extends beyond traditional cybersecurity threats to include long-term exposure within China-aligned technology ecosystems. As countries and institutions adopt these platforms, they may face increased vulnerability to external pressure, dependence on China-based resources and expertise for maintenance of infrastructure, and potential “fiscal catastrophe” if they seek to implement alternative infrastructure after the fact. (more)

America’s China Expertise Gap as a Strategic Vulnerability
(China-US Focus, 5/4/2026)

The author argues that the United States faces a growing strategic vulnerability stemming from a declining pool of China expertise across government, academia, and the private sector and contends that reduced investments in Chinese language training, regional studies, and long-term scholarly engagement have weakened the ability of U.S. institutions to accurately assess China’s policies, technological ambitions, and global influence efforts. The article warns that this “knowledge gap” could impair policymaking and reduce the effectiveness of national and research security strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining robust expertise on China while managing legitimate security concerns. The piece suggests that increasing scrutiny of international collaboration, while necessary in some contexts, may also discourage academic exchange and diminish the pipeline of future China specialists to support effective due diligence and evidence-based decision-making. (more)

Convicted Former Harvard Scientist Rebuilds Brain Computer Lab in China
(US News, 4/30/2026)

Registration Open for FDP May Membership Meeting in Washington D.C.

Charles Lieber, a former Harvard University professor convicted in 2021 for lying about his ties to China, has reestablished his research career in China, where he now leads a state-funded brain-computer interface lab in Shenzhen.   Lieber is directing the Institute for Brain Research, Advanced Interfaces and Neurotechnologies (i-BRAIN), part of a larger Chinese research initiative, with greater funding and access to advanced facilities than he had in the U.S.  His work focuses on brain-computer interfaces, a field with promising medical applications (such as treating paralysis and ALS) but also potential military uses, which has heightened concerns among U.S. officials. (more)

Registration is open for the Federal Demonstration Partnership (FDP) May 27-29 in-person membership meeting in Washington D.C.  Research security-related sessions currently listed on the preliminary (draft) agenda include:

  • Federal Agency Updates

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  • Federal Agency Research Security Risk Assessments and International Co-authorship

    • Description: Federal agencies with published research security risk processes or matrices for fundamental research, including NIH, NSF, DOE and DoW, will discuss the latest updates to their evolving processes and resources and address audience questions regarding recent changes and experiences. The discussion will address the issue of co-authorship as a proxy for collaboration.

    • Speakers:

      • Michelle Bulls, Director, Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, National Institutes of Health

      • Sarah Stalker-Lehoux, Acting Chief of Research Security, Strategy and Policy, National Science Foundation

      • Julie Anderson, Director, Research Technology and Economic Security, Department of Energy

      • Jason Day, Research Policy Director, Department of War (Invited)

      • Ann Gabriel, Senior Vice President for Global Strategic Networks, Elsevier

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  • Federal Research Security Update

    • Description: A panel of federal speakers from NIH, NSF, DOE and DoW will provide an update on the latest federal and agency research security requirements and resources. The session will provide time for audience questions.  

    • Speakers:

      • Michelle Bulls, Director, Office of Policy for Extramural Research Administration, National Institutes of Health

      • Sarah Stalker-Lehoux, Acting Chief of Research Security, Strategy and Policy, National Science Foundation

      • Julie Anderson, Director, Research Technology and Economic Security, Department of Energy

      • Jason Day, Research Policy Director, Department of War (Invited)
         

Registration Open for COGR June Membership Meeting in Washington D.C.

Registration is open for COGR’s June 11-12 in-person membership meeting in Washington DC.  Research security-related sessions currently listed on the preliminary agenda include:

  • Across the Agencies: Key Updates and Priorities

    • Speakers:

      • Michelle Bulls, Director, Office of the Policy for Extramural Research Administration (OPERA), National Institutes of Health (NIH)

      • Jason Bossie, Office Head, Office of Award Management, National Science Foundation (NSF)

  • Research Security & Biosafety: What’s New and What’s Next

    • Speakers:

      • Patrick Lee, Director, Office of Research, Economic, and Science Security, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

      • Lyric Jorgenson, Associate Director for Science Policy, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

RISC Bulletin

Texas A&M University’s Research and Innovation Security and Competitiveness (RISC) Institute disseminates weekly RISC Media Bulletins, covering topics related to research security, foreign influence, and the intersection of science, technology, and national security.  To join the distribution list for the RISC Bulletin or view previous editions, click here.

NSF SECURE Opportunities, Updates & Resources

Collaborative Workshop on Authorship and Research Security

The NSF SECURE Southeast Regional Center will host a workshop specifically structured to bring research security professionals and researchers together to discuss authorship and publication challenges and to collaboratively develop practical, risk‑aware solutions that support secure research collaboration. This workshop will encourage dialogue across roles and perspectives with the ultimate goal of supporting scholarly collaboration while mitigating risk.

  • Dates, Times, and Registration

    • May 12, 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. (ET) (register)

    • May 14, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. (ET) (register)

  • Audience: Research Security Officers (RSOs) & Researchers

  • Capacity: Each session is limited to 25 participants to support meaningful discussion and engagement.

  • Format: This is not a passive presentation. Attendees should expect active participation through open discussion and hands-on virtual activities. 

 

Multiple sessions are offered to accommodate schedules. Each session will cover the same content, and attendance is limited to 25 participants per session to ensure meaningful discussion. Participants only need to register for one session. 
 

Focus Groups on Interactive Research Security Briefings and Reference Library

The NSF SECURE Center will conduct two online focus groups to gather feedback on enhancements to the Research Security Briefings and Research Security Reference Library.  These sessions will engage representative users from the research community to evaluate new web-based, interactive formats of these resources, intended to improve their usability, accessibility, and overall value.

Participants will be asked to review prototype features, provide feedback on functionality and content organization, and identify opportunities to better support real-world decision-making and information needs. Insights gathered across the two sessions will inform iterative design improvements and ensure the enhanced tools align with user expectations and operational workflows.

  • Dates, Times, and Registration:           

    • Friday, 5/15/2026, 1:00 - 2:00pm (ET) (register)

    • Friday, 5/15/2026, 2:30 - 3:30pm (ET)(register)

  • Audience: Research Security Officers/Leads, Researcher Administrators, and Researchers who currently use the Research Security Briefings or Reference Library

  • Capacity: Each session is limited to 10 participants to maximize engagement.

Risk Escalation Tool Feedback Forum

The NSF SECURE Center Risk Escalation Tool Feedback Forum is a hands-on, interactive session where participants will learn about a new escalation workflow tool, try it out firsthand, and share feedback. This tool is designed to support risk identification, escalation, and decision‑making across different organizational settings. During the forum, participants will:

  • Watch a live demonstration of the tool and its workflow

  • Test the tool themselves and explore its features

  • Share feedback on content clarity, workflow logic, design, usability, and how well it fits their needs

  • Discuss practical use cases and suggest improvements

  • Engage directly with the team building the tool to help guide its next steps

 

To support deeper engagement, participants will receive access to the prototype one week before the session, allowing additional time to explore the tool and prepare feedback.

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The goal of this session is to make sure the tool is intuitive, effective, and aligned with real‑world needs by involving stakeholders early and giving them space to influence its development.

  • Dates, Times, and Registration:

    • May 20, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. (ET) (register)

    • May 21, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. (ET) (register)

  • Intended Audience: Research Security professionals (e.g., RSOs) and institutional leaders involved in research‑risk decision‑making (e.g., VPRs, AVPRs, Deans).

  • Capacity: Each session is limited to 25 participants to support meaningful discussion and engagement.

  • Format: This is not a passive presentation. Attendees should expect active participation through open discussion and hands-on virtual activities. Multiple sessions are offered to accommodate schedules. Each session will cover the same content. Participants only need to register for one session. 

Upcoming NSF SECURE Center SPARK Webinars

SECURE Programming: Advancing Research Knowledge (SPARK) webinars are free, interactive, virtual webinars designed to help the research security community better understand and implement requirements, resources, and best practices.

 

Registration Open: AI, Analytics, and Data-Driven Decision Making in Research Security

 

The NSF SECURE Center will host a webinar on May 12, 2026, at 1:00pm PT (2:00pm MT, 3:00pm CT, 4:00pm ET). This panel will explore how AI, analytics, and big data are reshaping research security and what it takes to translate complex data into meaningful, defensible decisions. Drawing on real-world examples, speakers will examine how institutions can identify true risk signals, avoid overgeneralization, and responsibly integrate data-driven tools with expert judgment.

 

The panel will feature Allen DiPalma, Deputy Director, NSF SECURE Analytics and Executive Director, Research Security & Trade Compliance at the University of Pittsburgh; Baron Wolf, Research Analytics at the University of Kentucky; and Deepika Bhatia, Director of the NSF SECURE Southeast Regional Center and AVP and Chief Research Security Officer at Emory University. The session will be moderated by Jeff Seo, Chief Research Compliance Officer at Northeastern University. Registration is open via this link

Trending Topics in the SVE Discussion Forum

Research security professionals across the country share questions, challenges, and practices in the NSF SECURE Center Shared Virtual Environment (SVE) discussion forum.  Each week we will highlight a few conversations worth knowing about.  This week, users have been discussing integrating research-security related screenings into pre-employment screening, and disclosure expectations around the receipt of samples from a foreign institution.  Head over to the Community Forum to join in.

User Testing Underway for Research Security Refresher Module

The NSF SECURE Center has developed a research security refresher training module that takes approximately 30 minutes or less to complete. The module condenses the Center’s one-hour research security training while continuing to meet federal law and adding new case content in response to questions received from researchers.

 

User testing for the module is underway. It is expected to be available to institutions and researchers in late May.

NSF SECURE Center Calendar of Events

Previous NSF SECURE Center Research Security Briefings

Each week the NSF SECURE Center hosts events through the National and Regional Centers, including co-creation workshops, educational, and engagement sessions with the research community. The events calendar provides more information about these opportunities and more.

2026 issues of the Research Security Briefing are available on the NSF SECURE Center website.

A combined, searchable version of all 2025 issues of the Briefing is also available.

Other News & Resources

U.S.-China Education Trust Online Resource Hub for Academic Travel to China.

The U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET), a program of the F.Y. Chang Foundation, has created an online resource hub for academic travel to China.  Per USCET, “This Resource Hub is designed to provide clear, practical guidance for Americans who are planning or considering academic travel to China, including students, scholars, faculty, and others working in educational or research settings.”

Opportunity to Participate in an NSF-funded Study on AI Research Security

Recruitment is underway for participants to share their experiences on research security as part of TRAILS (Typology of Research on Artificial Intelligence Lifecycle Security), a two-year NSF-funded study on AI research security.

 

If you are (1) an AI researcher or researcher who uses AI, (2) an IT, SOC, or cybersecurity professional, or (3) a compliance or export control professional, then you could receive a $100 Amazon gift card by completing a 60–90-minute audio-recorded interview via Zoom.

 

If you are interested in sharing your experience, please complete this short, four-questions survey to check your eligibility for participation.

 

If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to Rockwell (“Rocky”) Clancy (rfclancy@vt.edu) on behalf of the TRAILS teams (Qin Zhu, John Talerico, and Lisa Lee).

Community Job Postings

Please note, postings linked below are time-limited in nature.

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Looking to participate in NSF SECURE Center co-creation activities or contribute to weekly briefings?

Contact info@secure-center.org or sign up here.

The information provided by the NSF SECURE Center is intended for general research and educational purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our content, we do not guarantee its completeness, timeliness, or applicability to specific circumstances. Each user is responsible for conducting their own risk assessments and making decisions based on independent judgment.

 

Further, the NSF SECURE Center does not provide professional or legal advice, and users are encouraged to consult qualified professionals before making decisions based on the information found here. The NSF SECURE Center shall not be liable for any damages or costs of any type arising out of or in any way connected with your use of this information. External links are provided for convenience and do not constitute an endorsement of the content or services offered by any third-party resources.

 

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Cooperative Agreement No. 2403771.  Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation or other U.S. Government Agencies.

Professional Association Resources & Reports

Regulated Research Community of Practice (RRCoP) Webinar

The Regulated Research Community of Practice (RRCoP) is a national, community-led network of research institutions working together to support the growing demands of federally regulated research and research security compliance. Established through a National Science Foundation initiative, RRCoP brings together professionals across higher education, government, and industry to share expertise, develop practical resources, and build institutional capacity in areas such as cybersecurity, controlled data (e.g., CUI and Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), and evolving federal requirements like NSPM-33.

 

Through a combination of monthly webinars (held the second Wednesday at 2pm ET), workshops, shared tools and templates, and more, the community enables institutions to learn from one another, avoid duplicative efforts, and to accelerate compliant research while reducing administrative burden. With participation from more than 380 institutions, RRCoP connects stakeholders across research administration, IT, and compliance to address complex challenges collectively.

 

At its next monthly webinar on May 13, 2026 (2pm ET/11am PT), RRCoP will host a session on “Dynamic Documentation: Wiki, Document as Code, and Scripted System Security Plans.”  Per the RRCoP website:

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Maintaining accurate, audit-ready System Security Plans (SSPs) and compliance documentation is one of the most persistent challenges in regulated research. Static documents quickly become outdated, inconsistent, and difficult to scale. But what if your documentation could work smarter?

 

In this panel-style webinar, three practitioners from leading research institutions share how they have broken free from "framework rigidity" by adopting dynamic documentation strategies. From wiki-based approaches and document-as-code methodologies to scripting-driven SSP generation, each presenter brings a distinct and proven solution to a shared challenge.

 

Whether you are just beginning to modernize your compliance documentation or looking to refine your current approach, this session offers real-world insights and practical takeaways you can bring back to your institution.

 

Use Cases Shared By:

  • Princeton University

  • University of Michigan

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

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