Applied Research
Ongoing & Planned
Sentinel Research
Research is foundational to our mission. SRPI conducts major projects each semester focused on complex counterintelligence challenges that cannot be easily solved through governmental means — using open-source methods and interdisciplinary teams.
4
Active & Planned Studies
100%
Open-Source Methods
3
Publication Pathways
Non-Funded
Independent of Government
Research Portfolio
Current & Planned Studies
PRC Counterintelligence · Academic Security
Addressing the PRC Intelligence Threat to Academia
Principal Investigator: Andrew Rolander · GSRA: Lucy Mathews
This six-month research initiative examines the growing threat posed by People’s Republic of China intelligence services to U.S. academic institutions — through talent recruitment programs, institutional partnerships, and intellectual property theft. Despite the scale of these activities, many academic leaders and researchers remain unaware of their nature, scope, or implications.
The project aims to (1) clearly frame the threat, (2) identify solutions for raising awareness, and (3) develop educational materials and pilot engagement strategies for academic institutions. Drawing on open-source intelligence, government reports, and expert consultation, the study will produce a scalable model for strategic communication and counterintelligence awareness in higher education.
CI Awareness · Corporate & Academic Sectors
Perceptions of Counterintelligence in Corporate and Academic Environments
In collaboration with IXN Solutions
This collaborative study with IXN Solutions explores how counterintelligence is perceived in civilian sectors — specifically corporate and academic institutions — in response to escalating whole-of-society intelligence threats. As foreign espionage increasingly targets non-governmental data environments, understanding how these institutions view and implement CI measures is critical to national resilience.
Using open-source tools and cost-free platforms, the study will survey and interview a diverse range of professionals to assess awareness, attitudes, and institutional barriers to CI adoption. The team will produce a detailed report for IXN, academic analysis for the Sentinel Journal, and policy recommendations to improve CI literacy in vulnerable sectors. This project demonstrates how rigorous, policy-relevant research can be conducted using only open-access tools.
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PRC Influence Operations · OSINT Database
Targeting Minds: A Public Database of Chinese Espionage and Influence Operations
Principal Investigator: Shane McNeil · GSRA: Carla Renner
This project builds a publicly accessible, open-source database of documented People’s Republic of China espionage incidents, talent recruitment operations, and influence activities targeting U.S. institutions — with particular focus on academia, the defense industrial base, and technology sectors.
The database will enable researchers, policymakers, and institutional security officers to identify patterns across sectors, time periods, and PRC operational entities. Each entry is validated against a minimum two-source protocol using DOJ, FBI, CSIS, Hoover Institution, and congressional testimony records. The project will produce an annotated, exportable public dataset, a strategic policy analysis, sector-specific intern white papers, and an infographic mapping incident clusters.
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CI Reform · Legislative Policy · DoD History
Lessons from CIFA and the Path Forward: Evaluating the SECURE Act and Modern CI Reform
Proposed by Lee Dale, Isar Intelligence · Research Lead: Open — Apply Here
This non-funded, open-source study examines the Department of Defense’s historical experiment with the Counterintelligence Field Activity (CIFA) — its original mission, authorities, and structure; the oversight, legal, and organizational challenges it encountered; and the factors that led to its dissolution. The study then compares those findings to the objectives of the SECURE Act and related reform efforts associated with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The intent is to identify implementation risks, governance considerations, and historical parallels that may inform current policy discussions around modern counterintelligence reform. Findings will be published in the Sentinel Journal and a policy brief for stakeholders in the legislative and defense communities. A qualified research lead is currently being recruited — applications are open.
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Information Defense · Civic Identity · Influence Operations
Perceptions of American Values and Unity in an Era of Polarization
Research Lead: Open — Apply Here
This study explores American perceptions of national values, moral distinctiveness, and political unity during a period of heightened domestic polarization and coordinated foreign information operations. As adversarial nations — particularly the PRC and the Russian Federation — deploy influence operations designed to weaken U.S. social cohesion, a fundamental question emerges: Do Americans still view their country as a moral leader and a global force for good?
Using surveys, focus groups, content analysis, and an experimental component exposing participants to foreign disinformation narratives, the study will analyze the effectiveness of adversarial messaging in shaping domestic perceptions of American identity. Findings will offer insights into the resilience of American civic identity and produce a public-facing report, an academic publication, and a policy brief for stakeholders concerned with information security, psychological defense, and national cohesion.
Open Positions
Lead a Research Project
Two studies are currently recruiting research leads: Lessons from CIFA and the SECURE Act and Perceptions of American Values and Unity. Qualified doctoral candidates and advanced researchers are encouraged to apply. All research is non-funded and conducted using open-source methods.
Submit a Research Topic
Propose a Study
Practitioners, scholars, and partner organizations are welcome to submit research topic proposals for SRPI consideration. Proposals should identify a specific national security or counterintelligence challenge that benefits from a non-governmental, open-source analytical approach. SRPI reviews all proposals for mission alignment and feasibility.
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