Research NewsletterIssue: ORN-2024-08

NSF research security training modules now available

The U.S. National Science Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of four interactive online research security training modules, now available to researchers and institutions across the U.S. These modules are designed to facilitate principled international collaboration in an open, transparent and secure environment that safeguards the nation's research ecosystem.

Fueled by the "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022," these training modules signify a major first step in reconciling the needs of the research, law enforcement and intelligence communities to pursue trusted relationships in the global research community while minimizing economic and security risks. They provide researchers with clear guidelines and effective strategies to protect against existing and emerging research security threats. The modules also reinforce NSF's commitment to President Biden's priorities to strengthen protections of U.S. government-supported research as outlined in the National Security Presidential Memorandum – 33.

The following list identifies and summarizes the four training modules:

Module 1: Introduction to Research Security

This training module covers the key concepts of research security and how to recognize situations that may indicate undue foreign influence. By understanding the regulatory landscape that shapes research security, researchers will be empowered with the tools to protect their own work and safeguard the core values that underpin U.S. academic research.

Module 2: The Importance of Disclosure

This training module explains federal funding agency disclosure requirements, including types of information that must be disclosed, how that information is used and why such disclosures are fundamental to safeguarding the U.S. research enterprise from foreign government interference and exploitation.

Module 3: Manage and Mitigate Risk

This training module identifies types of international collaborative research and professional activities, associated potential risks, and strategies and best practices for managing and mitigating such risk. Learner experience will be customized based on their role as either a researcher or administrator.

Module 4: The Importance of International Collaboration

This training module emphasizes the role of principled international collaboration in U.S. science, innovation and economic competitiveness. The training will provide strategies on how to balance principled international collaboration with research security concerns, as well as how to foster an open, welcoming research environment that fulfills research security needs.

These training modules can be taken online, and users can download a completion certificate. The modules are also free to download for institutions to integrate into their learning management systems.

More information about Research Security at NSF can be found at nsf.gov.

NSF: Developmental Sciences; Division of Environmental Biology; Multi-Messenger Coordination for Windows on the Universe; ACED: Accelerating Computing-Enabled Scientific Discovery; Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Workshop Opportunities; Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Core Programs; Computer and Information Science and Engineering Research Expansion Program; Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)

NIH: NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00)

Department of Defense/US Army/DARPA/ONR: Distributed Analytics in Tactical Networks; FY25 Young Investigator Program; Fiscal Year 2024 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Program; ERDC Broad Agency Announcement

Department of Energy: Flexible and Innovative Transformer Technologies (FITT); Advancements in Artificial Intelligence for Science; Fiscal Year 2024 Technology Integration (TI) Funding Opportunity Announcement; Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): Methane Emissions Reduction Program Oil and Gas Methane Monitoring and Mitigation

NASA: ROSES - 2024: Early Career Investigator Program and Other Solicitations; ROSES 2023: A.53 Instrument Incubator Program; ROSES 2023: A.53 Instrument Incubator Program

National Endowment of Humanities: Fellowships

NIST calls for quantum tech experts to join advisory group:  The National Institute of Standards and Technology is in the process of forming a group of experts in quantum information sciences and technology to help craft technological standards for the burgeoning field. Announced on Feb. 9, NIST officials are inviting all parties to apply to join a new U.S. National Committee on quantum technologies and systems, which will represent U.S. perspectives in the development of international quantum technology standards.  On Jan. 11, the International Electrotechnical Commission and the International Organization for Standardization’s announced the formation of a Joint Technical Committee on Quantum Technologies — managed by the British Standards Institution and chaired by a representative of the Republic of Korea — to develop standards for the burgeoning field. In response, NIST was selected by the U.S. standards governing body, the American National Standards Institute, to administer the USNC that will work with the new joint technical committee. More information is posted on the NextGov website.

____________________________

Senate lawmakers look to set standards for educating America’s AI workforce: A new bill looks to strengthen and cultivate a workforce fluent in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and other emerging and critical technology fields. Introduced by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., on Feb. 8, the AI and Critical Technology Workforce Framework Act would create a strategy focused on emerging technology, modeled after the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education framework developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  The proposed framework would help define industry terms in areas like AI and machine learning, and then compile a rubric for skills education and training. A key goal of the bill is to keep the U.S. job market globally competitive and tech-savvy as more countries vie for a competitive advantage in various emerging tech fields.  “As artificial intelligence continues to play a bigger role in our society, it’s critical [that] the future of this groundbreaking technology is formed in the United States,” said Peters in a press release. “The way to ensure that happens is by building a workforce engaged in these new technologies.” More information is posted on the NextGov website.

____________________________

IARPA makes awards in 4-year effort studying hacker psychology: The National Intelligence Director’s research arm kicked off an effort to study the psychology of cyberattackers, as part of an effort to weaponize hackers’ intellectual biases and thwart hostile intrusion attempts, the office announced last week.

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity endeavor — titled Reimagining Security with Cyberpsychology-Informed Network Defenses, or ReSCIND — would “leverage attackers' human limitations, such as innate decision-making biases and cognitive vulnerabilities, to disrupt their attacks,” ODNI said. Psychology researchers have previously examined how cybercriminals use cognitive biases through strategies like socially engineered cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. Research has also been conducted on hackers’ psychology, focused on their motivations and curiosities that lead them to carry out their work. The new frontier would focus on cybersecurity measures that exploit the biases of the attackers themselves. More information is posted on the NextGov website.