About

The Office of Global Safety and Research Security

 Responsibilities include:

1. Developing and Managing Research Security Programs

• Establishing policies and procedures to safeguard research data, intellectual property, and sensitive technologies.
• Ensuring alignment with federal agency requirements, such as those from the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal funding agencies.

2. Risk Assessment and Mitigation

• Identifying potential security threats to research projects and developing strategies to mitigate risks.

3. Collaboration Oversight

• Reviewing international collaborations, partnerships, and affiliations for potential risks.

4. Global Safety

• Review and assess international travel risks for Baylor faculty, staff, and students.

5. Education and Training

• Providing training for researchers, faculty, and staff on topics like research security best practices, foreign travel briefings, and foreign influence risks.
• Raising awareness of regulatory requirements and the potential consequences of non-compliance.

6. Incident Response and Reporting

• Investigating suspected breaches of research security and responding to potential violations or intrusions.
• Reporting incidents to federal agencies as required, such as the FBI, DoD, U.S. State Department, or the Department of Homeland Security.

7. Liaison with Government Agencies

• Serves as the primary contact for federal agencies on matters related to research security and international travel.
• Facilitating audits, inspections, or reviews by government entities.

8. Maintaining Secure Environments

• Overseeing access to research facilities.

In essence, the RSO serves as a safeguard for the university’s research enterprise and global engagement efforts, balancing the need for open collaboration with the responsibility to protect national security and intellectual property.

What is Research Security?

Research Security refers to measures and practices aimed at protecting research projects, intellectual property, data, and innovations from unauthorized access, theft, or exploitation, particularly by foreign entities or individuals. It ensures that federally funded research complies with regulations and safeguards national security interests. Key aspects of research security include:

1. Protection of Sensitive Data: Preventing unauthorized access to sensitive or export-controlled information, such as technologies with military or dual-use applications.
2. Compliance with Federal Laws: Adhering to regulations like National Security Presidential Memorandum - 33 (NSPM-33), the Foreign Influence Transparency Act, export control laws, and policies from agencies such as the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DOE), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and National Science Foundation (NSF).
3. Conflict of Interest/Commitment Management: Ensuring transparency regarding researchers' affiliations, financial interests, or commitments to foreign institutions or governments.
4. Cybersecurity: Implementing strong cybersecurity measures to protect research data from hacking or espionage.
5. Awareness and Training: Educating researchers and institutions about potential risks from foreign influence or espionage and best practices to mitigate them.

The focus on research security has increased in response to concerns about intellectual property theft and foreign interference, particularly from countries like China, Russia, and Iran in sensitive research areas.

Why is Research Security Important?

Baylor University values global scholarly collaboration as a foundation for innovation and technological progress. While most international partnerships are secure, increased Federal scrutiny highlights rare cases of research security violations at U.S. universities. To address this, Baylor has implemented a Research Security Program.

Contact the Research Security Officer (RSO)

Jared Bickenbach

Director of Global Safety and Research Security

Hankamer Academic Center H360

(254)644-1764