Frequently Asked Questions on Research Security, Foreign Relations and International Collaborations | Research

1

What are some foreign relation/international collaborative scenarios (list is not all-inclusive) that I might need to navigate and manage?

You are invited to speak at an international meeting sponsored by a foreign entity that has offered to pay for your travel and lodging.
You advise a PhD graduate student who attends an international university. This is an unpaid adjunct appointment.
You advise a student in another country and you are invited to speak at that university.
You’ve been approached by a foreign talent recruiting program.
As a researcher you anticipate having access to the laboratory resources of a foreign university or government through the existence of a lab in a foreign country.

For any scenarios not listed that you believe may be important to add to this list, please send your suggestion to gllemay@mtu.edu.

2

I’m not sure if my situation needs to be disclosed. What do I do?

Start with talking to your chair/supervisor and reviewing your sponsor requirements. One thing we’ve learned as various cases have been litigated and federal sponsors have developed their terms, conditions, and processes to assess these situations is, as a researcher it is best to disclose, disclose, disclose! The best course of action tends to be fact specific and may require further communication with your sponsor(s).

You may also contact the Export Control Office (rlenglun@mtu.edu) or Gina LeMay (gllemay@mtu.edu) in the Sponsored Operations Office to start the discussion.

3

When do I disclose?

Per the University Conflict of Interest and sponsor policies and procedures, disclose all international research collaboration and relationships to the University (starting with your chair/supervisor) and to any U.S. sponsor supporting your research accordingly. It’s recommended you disclose prior to the collaboration taking place. If the collaboration is already in progress, disclose to your chair/supervisor and U.S. sponsors to your collaboration immediately.

4

What about my phone or laptop when I travel for business? Do I need to do something?

Protecting University access and data while on travel is very important. The best thing to do is consult with the Information Technology group well in advance of your travel to ensure you are properly set up with your equipment/software for safeguarding your access and data while traveling. Consider your destination and all potential risks. The Information Technology group may offer or require a sanitized “loaner” laptop or phone to avoid exposure of your access or data. Avoid carrying any sensitive, proprietary, or confidential data. Also, never use a USB drive or other portable media given to you while traveling.