Principal Investigator Eligibility
The University is the legal recipient of all grants and contracts made in support of sponsored projects. However, it is the Principal Investigator who initiates, oversees and develops sponsored project applications and when funded is responsible for project execution, award management, and compliance with all applicable rules and regulations that govern sponsored projects. To serve as Principal Investigator an individual must be a faculty member or other professionally qualified staff, as noted below.
PI Eligible
Active full- or part-time salaried employees holding the following titles:
- Tenured and tenure track faculty
- Research faculty
- Extension faculty
- Instructor or lecturer
- Professional staff
- University administrators
- Post-Doctoral or Graduate Student fellows on training and fellowship applications, where a PI eligible faculty member is named as a mentor.
- Emeritus Faculty who have an active appointment in PeopleSoft HR and receive compensation for their effort
New Hires
New faculty hires who have accepted positions at the University are PI eligible and may submit proposals before they start their appointment.
Ineligible Positions
Individuals in the following categories are not eligible to be a Principal Investigator unless they have written approval from the Department Chair/Center Director, Dean if applicable, and the Vice President for Research & Dean of the Graduate School through use of the PI Eligibility Form; have an active appointment in PeopleSoft HR; and receive compensation for their effort.
- External Associates
- Visiting Faculty
- Adjunct Faculty
- Students
Revised 3/2023
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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