Office of Research Security
The Rice University ecosystem is enhanced and strengthened when people from different parts of the world come together to discuss ideas and generate innovation. The exceptional contributions of foreign collaborators to Rice University teaching and research are indisputable.
However, as highlighted by the United States Intelligence Community and Federal Funding Agencies (National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director of National Intelligence), adversarial foreign governments have made a concerted effort to take advantage of such openness to advance their social and economic agendas and have threatened the integrity and academic competitiveness of U.S. research and innovation.
The Office for Research Security (ORS) recognizes the importance of striking a balance between research security while maintaining an open and collaborative partnership with the international community. The GOALS of the ORS is to provide resources to the Rice community through:
AWARENESS – International research activities are an integral part of Rice University. Rice University faculty have foreign collaborators, extend invitations to foreign visitors, and admit international graduate students and visiting scholars to Rice University. ORS can equip faculty with threat awareness information and tools necessary to make an inform decision on foreign academic visitors, engaging in university-related international travel, or potential international collaborations.
EDUCATION – ORS works closely with federal funding and governmental agencies to remain cognizant of existing and future government regulations and mandates as it relates to international collaboration and research security. As such ORS provides education to the Rice community so they can avoid unwanted scrutiny from federal funding and U.S. governmental agencies with law enforcement authorities.
TRAINING –In an effort to strengthen research security in the U.S., the President of the United States signed the National Security Presidential Memorandum – 33, which directed federal funding agencies to strengthen protections of U.S. government-supported research and development against foreign government interference and exploitation. As mandated by the NSPM-33, ORS works closely with federal agencies to provide current and relevant training to faculty on research security to include threat awareness and identification, and insider threat training.
Contact Information
Tam Dao, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President for Research Security
tkdao@rice.edu
713-348-3323