Welcome to the Office of Research Services

The Office of Research Services (ORS) provides full life cycle administrative support to facilitate innovative research that positively impacts the world. ORS provides excellent customer service through knowledge-based leadership and stewardship. This includes timely clear communication to build partnerships with the Penn research community and our external sponsors.
Mass Spectrometer
GRASP Lab
Museum Artifact Lab
Singh Center

NIH Reduction of Indirect Cost Rate

On Friday, February 7, the NIH issued a New Guidance Notice reducing immediately the Facilities and Administrative cost rate for all NIH awards to 15%. Please click the link for more information on this and other actions impacting federally funded projects. A temporary restraining order has been issued barring implementation as of February 11, 2025.

Need information on the impact of the presidential transition on your federally funded projects?

Research Security Training

Federal research sponsors are, or soon will be, requiring Research Security Training for “covered individuals.” For example, the Department of Energy is now requiring the training at time of proposal for some funding opportunities, and NSF will begin requiring this training effective May 1, 2025. PIs, Co-PIs, senior/key personnel, or other project personnel identified in the request for proposals, notice of funding opportunity, or award terms and conditions must complete Research Security Training.

Penn ORS News

Recent News

New NIH Data Management and Access Requirements for Sharing Genomic Data

The National Institutes for Health (NIH) has significantly updated its policy related to data security requirements. Effective January 25, 2025, users and developers of controlled-access genomic data will be required to manage that data in compliance with NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity requirements. For more information on the requirements and how Penn is implementing them, including […]
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Prohibition on Participation in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs

Effective May 20, 2024, the NSF has implemented a prohibition on individuals participating in Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs from submitting proposals or participating in NSF-funded research.  This requirement is part of the implementation of a federal-wide requirement.  For more information, please see Penn’s new Research Security webpage and review our new Sponsored Programs Policy […]
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Prohibition of TikTok on Penn Devices Used for Research

As you may be aware, there is a growing concern with data security on social media applications, such as TikTok, and a call for federal and state lawmakers to regulate these security risks. A Congressional Research Services Report from March 2023 highlighted some of the major concern areas regarding data security on social media applications, […]
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NSF Policy on Safe and Inclusive Working Environments

NSF has implemented a new policy (see Chapter XI.A.1.g. of PAPPG 23-1) to foster safe and harassment-free environments wherever science is conducted. This policy is effective for proposals with off-campus or off-site work due on or after January 30, 2023, and requires proposers to certify that they have a plan in place for creating and […]
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New to Sponsored Projects at Penn?

Penn Data for Proposals

Find Your ORS Contact

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