Propel Research Mentorship Program introduces two new tracks for the 2025-2026 cohort

Research Training and Education Services (RTES) is excited to announce two new Propel Mentorship tracks for the 2025-2026 cycle, focused on NSF CAREER and Department of Energy grants. These tracks will be provided alongside the existing National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) offerings. The NSF CAREER track replaces the NSF CAREER Bootcamp and offers a refreshed experience tailored to both resubmissions and first-time CAREER applicants. RTES is now accepting 2025-2026 Propel applications, which are due by Sunday, August 3, 2025.

The Propel Research Mentorship Program is designed to support faculty members who are new to the federal grants application process or have had success in securing relatively small grant awards and are ready to apply for an R01 grant from the NIH, a relatively large grant from the NSF, an NSF CAREER award or a DOE grant. Program activities for the 2025-2026 Propel class will run from August 22 through May 1, 2026, and participants will submit their proposals no later than June 2026.

 

Research Security Spotlight: What is the best way to get up to speed on research security?

At a Carnegie tier-one research institution like USC, faculty juggle many responsibilities. It can be difficult for busy researchers to keep up with the ever-evolving research security landscape and make sure they have completed all the training required by federal agencies that fund their work. Fortunately, the Office of Research Security has recently begun to offer streamlined security training through the CITI Program platform, allowing covered researchers to complete required annual research security training in about one hour. Here is everything you need to know to make sure you are up to speed with research security training:

• Faculty, students, postdocs, staff and affiliate scholars who are considered covered individuals on a federally funded research project must complete the one-hour Research Security Training course on the CITI Program platform. Check out the Research Security Training page to determine if you are considered a covered individual, and to access the CITI-based Research Security Training course.
• Some covered individuals are required to take additional web-based training courses related to research security, all of which are available through the Research Security Training page:
  • University personnel supporting federal contracts/awards with access to regulated data (controlled unclassified information, HIPAA, genomic, etc.) must complete Controlled Unclassified Information Training.
  • Personnel involved in export-controlled research are required to complete Export Control Compliance Training. 
  • University personnel working on a federal project requiring Operations Security (OPSEC) training must complete OPSEC training.
  • Personnel working on some select Department of Defense projects are required to complete Insider Threat Awareness training.
• Once you have completed required research security training, don’t forget to confirm completion by submitting your certificate(s) using the form on the Research Security Training page.

For more information about research security at USC, visit the Office of Research Security website.

 

Attention Faculty Mentors: Registration is now open for the 2025 undergraduate Summer Research Symposium

The Office of Undergraduate Research is excited to announce the 2025 Summer Research Symposium coming up on Thursday, July 31, in the Hollings Program Room at the Thomas Cooper Library. Poster sessions will occur in the morning and the afternoon. The symposium is open to all undergraduate students working on summer 2025 research projects in any discipline, with faculty from any USC campus. Students visiting USC from other colleges and universities are welcome to present. Read more about the summer showcase, and register to present by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1.

And, don’t forget to invite your summer undergraduate mentees to join in Office of Undergraduate Research professional development workshops, offered each Wednesday morning through July 9.

 

Calling all research administrators: grow your skills with upcoming STRIVE opportunities

Research Training and Education Services (RTES) is pleased to share several upcoming opportunities for research administration staff available through Strategic Training in Research Innovation and Administrative Excellence (STRIVE). Check out the RTES website for details and registration for a variety of STRIVE opportunities:

• STRIVE Training Program: Applications are now open for the tiered STRIVE Training Program, which offers training for demonstrated competencies and proficiencies in research administration at three levels. Learn more about the STRIVE Training Program and apply. Applications will be open until Friday, August 1.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) Study Hall: CRA Study Hall is a guided self-study initiative designed to support eligible research administrators at USC in preparing for the nationally recognized Certified Research Administrator exam. Learn more about CRA Study Hall and sign up to receive the Teams link.