Requesting Divisional Approval for PI StatusIn accordance with University Guidelines for Grant and Contract Management Policy 201. A PI is an academic staff member who is responsible for directing the research and for ensuring that all terms and conditions of a sponsored agreement are met. PI eligibility (is not inherent in all academic appointments. For those situations wherein an individual who does not meet the institutional definition of PI, yet the research program and the sponsoring agency requirements demand that the applicant be PI, the Provost will review a request and may grant PI status on a case-by-case basis. To obtain PI status, the Department Chairperson must first request PI status approval from the Division (via Lynda Wolter or, if preferred to the Dean) who then endorses the request and forwards it to University Research Administration for the Provost's review and approval. In addition, if the individual does not have an academic appointment in BSD (for example, hospital housestaff members), the appointment process must be initiated following departmental procedures. While each individual circumstance is unique, the request should cover the following points:Identify the individual, their current BSD academic appointment and the rationale for PI status. If the individual does not currently have an active or approved BSD appointment (including new recruits, house staff in the hospital, etc.), there must be an indication that the appointment is in process. If the proposed appointment inherently is PI eligible (e.g. Assistant Professor), then the letter should be to request PI status prior to commencement of the appointment. In this case, it is unnecessary to provide items 2-5 below. It must be self-evident that the academic appointment is not contingent upon the success of this proposal. Indicate the type of request (e.g. for a particular proposal or broader permission) and that the proposal or award type is consistent with the level of training and expertise of the individual. This is particularly important with postdoctoral fellows and unranked research associates who are applying for junior awards or fellowships where the funding agency requires that the fellow/postdoc serve as PI. Indicate how receipt of the award will help the individual meet research/training goals. Indicate why a faculty member could not serve as PI in this instance - e.g. there is an agency requirement. Identify individuals with whom this person will work and who may take some responsibility for the programmatic conduct of the proposal. Assurance that the Department will assume a programmatic, financial and administrative oversight role. This is critical to stewardship of the award (compliance issues, reporting, etc.). The Department Chairperson must sign the letter. Attach a current copy of the investigator's CV to the request.
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