University and Sponsor Disclosure Requirements

Stony Brook University (SBU) remains committed to the principles of academic freedom, free inquiry, and the open exchange of knowledge, which serve as the bedrock of scholarship and research. SBU supports and encourages individuals to pursue and engage in external activities that promote SBUs mission, contribute to professional fields, and enhance professional skills. In return, individuals are expected to fulfill their SBU obligations first and foremost, commensurate with their appointment requirements.

Faculty, staff, and students may have multiple disclosure reporting requirements depending upon their SBU role and duties. It is important that individuals understand how these requirements apply to them.

External Interests & Commitments (Stony Brook University Policy)

Individuals have an obligation to avoid conflicts of interest and commitment when carrying out their external and University education, research, scholarship, or service responsibilities. All external relationships - both domestic and international - should be transparent and must be disclosed in a manner that is consistent with applicable requirements, including federal and state laws/regulations/agency guidance, as well as SBU's own policies and procedures. Such disclosures must include activities that occur over summer/winter break months.

Relevant Links:

Disclosure of External Interests & Commitments Policy

Conflict of Interest & Commitment Website

Biosketch, Current & Pending and Other Support (Sponsor Requirements)

Investigators should familiarize themselves with the information provided by OVPR as well as specific guidance from their respective funding agency. Ultimately it is the investigator's responsibility to appropriately disclose international relationships, activities, and components in accordance with internal and external policies.

We strongly encourage investigators to err on the side of transparency when considering or reporting a foreign activity. At some institutions, failures to disclose foreign connections or other regulatory violations have resulted in personnel actions and even indictments by law enforcement. Some federal funding agencies have stated that investigators who fail to disclose appointments or support from foreign entities may be ineligible to receive funding.

Biosketch, Current & Pending and Other Support Website

Recent News: Office of Science and Technology. Policy Regarding Use of Common Disclosure Forms for the "Biographical Sketch" and "Current and Pending (Other) Support" Sections of Applications by Federal Research Funding Agencies. February 14, 2024.

Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)

The University must adhere to OCI regulations, such as Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 9.5 and Uniform Guidance 200.318c(2) as a condition for funding from certain U.S. government agencies. Some federal sponsors such as the Department of Defense and ARPA-H require disclosure of OCI at the time of proposal submission.

We strongly encourage faculty, chairs and deans to be familiar with these requirements and to disclose/discuss activities that might create organizational COIs with the Director for Research Security.

Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) Website