Identifying and Responding to Potential Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP) Invitations

When should I seek guidance about an invitation from a foreign entity?

If you are asked to engage in any of the activities below in connection with a foreign institution, you should promptly discuss the invitation with your department chair/head, dean, or Vice President, as well as the Research Integrity, Security, and Compliance office.

What types of requests are considered 🚩 red flags? 

You should seek guidance if a foreign entity asks you to:

• Transfer intellectual property, materials, data, or other nonpublic information without authorization

• Recruit students, trainees, or researchers to join a foreign program or accept a position abroad

• Establish a laboratory or research program at a foreign institution

• Form or help form a company

• Accept a faculty appointment or other employment with a foreign entity

• Sign a contract or agreement that cannot be terminated except under extraordinary circumstances

• Commit a specific amount of time to work for the foreign institution

• Perform work that overlaps with your NDSU research activities

• Apply for or receive funding from a foreign government that would be awarded to the foreign institution

• Omit acknowledgment of a foreign institution or a U.S. federal research sponsor

• Withhold disclosure of your foreign affiliation from NDSU or the federal government

Why do these activities matter?

These types of requests may indicate that the opportunity is connected to a Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program (MFTRP). Many federal agencies now prohibit participation in MFTRPs, and failure to identify and disclose such involvement can jeopardize both individual and institutional eligibility for federal funding.

What should I do if I receive an invitation like this?

Consult with your department chair/head, dean, or VP, and contact the Research Integrity, Security and Compliance office. They can help you evaluate the request, understand potential risks, and ensure compliance with federal requirements.