Restrictions of Publication Rights and Foreign Nationals in Sponsored Research Contracts

Title: Restrictions of Publication Rights and Foreign Nationals in Sponsored Research Contracts
Policy Owner: Vice President for Research and Graduate Faculty Council Executive Committee
Applies to: Faculty, Staff, Students, Others
Campus Applicability:
Effective Date:  April 6, 2004
For More Information, Contact Sponsored Program Services
Contact Information:  (860) 486-3619
Official Website: https://ovpr.uconn.edu/services/sps/proposals/

 

 

INTRODUCTION

This policy outlines the conditions under which UConn can accept restrictions on publication rights and foreign nationals in sponsored research contracts.  This policy is necessary because federal export control regulations (including International Traffic in Arms Regulations – ITAR) severely restricts all publication by PIs and carries severe sanctions.  Under these regulations federal agencies can withhold the right to publish, including a thesis.  Accordingly, the policy’s goal is to safeguard graduate students’ progress towards graduation while allowing them to gain valuable experience working on such sponsored research projects.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE POLICY

A grant with restrictions on foreign nationals and publication rights can be accepted only if the following conditions are met:

1)      The Principal Investigator (P.I.) must show that graduate students will not be employed on the project for more than 6 months.  This determination will be made on a case-by-case basis and is not automatic.  Six months is the maximum appointment to be considered.  Furthermore, in the future similar work should be done by a technician or post-doc.

2)      The student must understand that the work cannot be part of his/her thesis because of the restrictions.  In addition, it is important that the student or post-doc understands that he/she cannot discuss the research with others in the lab and cannot allow anyone (besides the P.I.) access to the research data.   This information will be conveyed to each student and post-doc in a letter provided by the P.I.

3)      The P.I. must outline procedures to guarantee in writing that no other employee in the lab will have access to the data.  The PI must also guarantee that the work and resulting data will not be discussed in group meetings.

4)      The P.I., as well as each graduate student and post-doc, must sign the statements described in Sections 2 and 3 of this Policy.  OSP must get a signed copy of each statement before funds are released.

5)      The P.I. must be informed by OSP that the consequences of federal oversight on contracts with these restrictions can be severe, both for the individual and the institution.  The procedures outlined in this Policy are designed to protect him/her.

6)      The Associate Vice Provost may meet with the affected graduate student to ensure that he/she understands the Policy.