Starting June 7, 2025, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is implementing a new annual certification process for Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs). This requirement applies to individuals listed on NSF awards issued on or after May 20, 2024, and is part of the NSF’s ongoing efforts to address concerns related to Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs (MFTRPs).

Under this policy, PIs and co-PIs must log into Research.gov and confirm each year that they are not involved in any MFTRP. This certification is mandatory for maintaining eligibility to serve in these roles on NSF-funded projects. Those currently participating in such programs are ineligible to be named as senior or key personnel on NSF proposals or awards issued after the effective date.

Key points to note:

• Only individuals (not institutions) are required to complete this certification.
• If a PI or co-PI has multiple active NSF awards, they only need to certify once per year.
• Certification status can be viewed in the Academic/Professional Information section of the Research.gov profile.
• NSF plans to expand this requirement to include all senior/key personnel in the future.
• Organizations will eventually gain access to view these certifications.

For more details, visit the NSF website: https://www.nsf.gov/research-security#mftrp. If you have questions, you should email NSF directly at researchsecurity@nsf.gov.