Vital Components
Research Security guides researchers on navigating export controls, federal regulations, and more to ensure secure and compliant research activities.
Navigate our research security resources to stay informed on:
Common misconceptions, mistakes, & myths
“I don’t do engineering/STEM/military projects, so the export controls don’t really apply to me.”
WRONG!
Export control regulations apply to ALL items. For example, if you are doing research in modern languages, you might use a voice recorded. Depending on its specifications, it might be EAR99, or have a more restrictive ECCN number.
“All I do is fundamental research that I intend to publish, so export controls don’t really apply to my work/lab.”
WRONG!
Fundamental research projects are exempt from export controls (NSDD-189), however, this exemption only applies to research. It does NOT apply to the equipment and software being used or created. If a piece of hardware is created during the fundamental research, then that piece of hardware is subject to export controls. If software is created, unless it is made publicly available (free to download by anyone), the it is subject to export controls. If you are using a machine/equipment to carry out your research, and that equipment is export controlled (UM institution can purchase most of those very easily), then training your non-US person students on the inner workings of that equipment might be against the law.
“It’s commercial off-the-shelf, so it’s not export controlled.”
As a person residing in the U.S., with a U.S. shipping address, you are able to purchase items that those residing in other countries might not be. A big part of it has to do with export controls. Some examples of highly controlled items for export: precision gyroscopes or thermal imaging cameras.
“If I carry it with me in my carry-on luggage, I don’t have to worry about export controls.”
WRONG!
Anything leaving the U.S. is being exported, does matter how it’s being taken out.
Who to Contact at the UM
If you have any research security related concerns, please reach out to Marta Panickar at 662.915.8868, mbp@olemiss.edu, or submit a report via EhticsPoint by clicking the button below.