International Research Operations
Welcome to Office for Global Engagement’s International Research Operations resource page. The Office for Global Engagement seeks to provide guidance and resources to faculty and staff who are planning to conduct University research projects abroad and can serve as a primary point of contact for faculty and staff as they plan their international research activities.
Planning Your Activities
Conducting research projects internationally can be complex. Considerable prior planning may be required to assess employment issues, compliance with local laws, corporate establishment concerns, cash and payment needs, University and personal tax issues, travel risk, federal award requirements, IRB approvals, and export control regulations.
The Office of Global Engagement, together with other offices that support University operations, have compiled resources and guidance on key issues that faculty and staff should consider as they plan their international research projects. Faculty and staff should review each of the topics below as they plan their activities, and contact those offices indicated with additional questions.
Establishing Partnerships | Permanent Establishment, Tax, and Foreign Legal Registration
Cash and Payments | Purchasing / Contracts
Individual Visa Obligations | Students Abroad
Data Privacy Laws | Human Subjects
Compliance with Local Law | FCPA
Export Controls | Subcontracts and Award Compliance
Contact Global Engagement
The Director for Global Operations, in consultation with the Office of the Vice President for Research, ORPA, the Office for Global Engagement, Office of Counsel, Human Resources, and the University Controller, helps faculty and staff plan their international research activities.
If your potential project meets any of the criteria below, the Office of Global Engagement should be consulted in the planning process of your project. Departments should contact the Director of Global Operations (joe.doyle@rochester.edu) or another member of the Office of Global Engagement to discuss objectives, options, and potential compliance issues involved in the project. Please review the criteria below:
It is expected that one or more University faculty, staff, or students will be located outside of the 50 U.S. States for six months or more per year.
It is expected that the University will have a local in-country (non-U.S.) collaborator assist in carrying out the proposed project.*
* In considering this question, exclude those local in-country collaborators that are (i) subrecipients of a subaward from sponsored funding that will not involve any University “on site” research activity outside of the 50 U.S. States, or (ii) performing a multi-site clinical trial, where the foreign collaborator site(s) administer the clinical trial separately from the University.
Excluding payments to research subjects, it is expected that the project will include hiring or directly paying individuals located outside the 50 U.S. States to support the proposed project.
It is expected that the project will include (i) ongoing operations outside the 50 U.S. States, including through ownership or lease of real property to support the proposed project, or (ii) the purchase of vehicles or other high high-value property outside the 50 U.S. States.
It is expected that the project will involve the University (and not a local collaborator) conducting clinical research or clinical trials outside of the 50 U.S. States.
As part of its review, the Office of Global Engagement may ask you to complete the International Research Project Form.
The purpose of this form is to ensure that the details of your potential project are fully understood, which will allow the Office of Global Engagement to advise and coordinate with other University offices as needed. Departments and researchers are encouraged to contact the Office of Global Engagement and submit an International Research Project Form as early in their planning process as possible.
Remember, if a research project will involve University students traveling to a foreign country (whether in their capacity as a student or employee), the students must register their travel and may require approval by the Center for Education Abroad.