OP will not be the only person reading this in the future. All should beware of the pitfalls. One of the case I am following has 9 violations of the CFR with several having prison terms of 20 years for wire fraud based on falsified affidavits related to grants.
Also, this has nothing to do with a security clearance; most university research is on state or federal awards and do not require a security clearance. The second case is due to a failure to notify the employer as required by employer policy and failing to notify the government as required by the RFP.
Many employers have government contracts. There is no way to know what OP's employer with the ethics policy may be involved in now and in the future.
IMO, OP is foolish to lie to his employer. It may come back to bite him in the rear when he does not expect it - and hurt others along the way.
Also, this has nothing to do with a security clearance; most university research is on state or federal awards and do not require a security clearance. The second case is due to a failure to notify the employer as required by employer policy and failing to notify the government as required by the RFP.
Many employers have government contracts. There is no way to know what OP's employer with the ethics policy may be involved in now and in the future.
IMO, OP is foolish to lie to his employer. It may come back to bite him in the rear when he does not expect it - and hurt others along the way.