About the RSO

About the Research Security Office

The Research Security Office was established pursuant to the National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) which requires that research organizations maintain a research security program that meets the standards laid out by NSPM-33 and the related implementation guidance.  While the Research Security Office serves as the primary contact and coordinator for UMD’s Research Security Program, the specific elements of the Program are administered by multiple units, drawing from many long-established processes and new processes.

“One of America’s greatest strengths is its scientific and technological innovation, fueled over time by Federal investments in research and development (R&D). From the fundamental to the applied, U.S.-supported research has transformed our world and has made our communities safer, healthier, stronger, and more equitable.

The American research culture is intentional in its strong commitment to openness. Yet maintaining that open research culture also requires being clear-eyed that certain governments seek to exploit our openness and disrupt the integrity of our research. Such threats require the Federal government, in collaboration with the research community, to take protective actions to mitigate research integrity risks without compromising the values that distinguish the U.S. research enterprise: openness, transparency, honesty, equity, fair competition, objectivity, and democratic participation….

NSPM-33 directs a series of actions for Federal research agencies, with an emphasis on developing standardized policies and practices for disclosing information to assess conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment among researchers and research organizations applying for Federal R&D awards.”

- “An Update on Research Security: Streamlining Disclosure Standards to Enhance Clarity, Transparency, and Equity”, Office of Science and Technology Policy, The White House, August 31, 2022