Policies, Responsibilities, and Procedures
The term Principal Investigator (PI) is used to identify a researcher with primary responsibility for a research project. In various contexts, the specific purport, eligibility criteria and responsibilities of PI status may vary. |
Principal Investigator Status for GrantsThe term Principal Investigator (PI) is used most commonly to identify the individual who is responsible for a sponsored research project (grant). This responsibility includes both leadership of the scientific/ technical aspects of the project and compliance with the financial and administrative aspects of the award. Tenured and tenure-track faculty are eligible to serve as sponsored project PIs. The following policy documents describe the procedures by which academic staff may also be authorized to serve as PIs in this context: |
Principal Investigator Status for Research ProtocolsResearchers having responsibility for human subjects research, animal research or other research activities that may or may not be associated with grants are also referred to as Principal Investigators (PIs). The following links provide details regarding eligibility and application processes for PI status for research protocols:
PI Status for Animal Care and Use Protocols Office of Biological Safety – See Protocol Instructions |
Principal Investigator Status for Student ProposalsSome sponsored project competitions are directed specifically to the support of individual students or fellows (i.e., dissertation awards, predoctoral or postdoctoral fellowships.) The proposal format may require that the individual applicant be identified as Principal Investigator (PI). In these circumstances a faculty member or other authorized sponsored project PI should be identified to hold institutional responsibility and to be named as the PI in WISPER and other institutional documents. |