Principal Investigator Eligibility Policy

In the conduct of sponsored research, the Principal Investigator (PI) bears primary responsibility for the intellectual conduct of a project and accepts overall responsibility for directing the research, overseeing financial transactions, and compliance with the sponsor’s terms and conditions and relevant policies and procedures. To serve as a PI, the investigator must personally participate in the project.

UB faculty and staff eligible to serve as a PI include:

1. Academic appointees who hold the following titles: Dean, Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor; Research Professor, Associate Research Professor, Assistant Research Professor; Clinical Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, Assistant Clinical Professor; Librarian, Associate Librarian, or Assistant Librarian are automatically eligible to serve as a PI on externally sponsored projects
2. Academic appointees with the titles Emeritus, Adjunct, or Visiting Professor may serve as a PI on externally sponsored projects only with the prior written approval of the cognizant dean
3. Non-academic professional staff may serve as a PI on an externally sponsored project only with the prior written approval of the provost or cognizant vice president
4. Co-principal Investigators (Co-PI), other than students, must meet the same criteria for eligibility as a PI
5. Student eligibility for PI status is limited to a Co-PI with a faculty advisor or sponsor who independently qualifies as a PI Applicants in this category require prior written approval of the appropriate dean of the college or school in which the student is registered
6. In rare circumstances in which a UB employee wishes to serve as a PI but does not meet the eligibility criteria set forth above, a request for an exception to this policy must be submitted to the provost for consideration

It is the intent of this policy that only UB faculty and staff with PI status apply for external funding for sponsored projects.

This policy applies to all individuals seeking PI or Co-PI status on any sponsored project.

Co-Principal Investigator

An individual collaborating with the PI in the scientific development or execution of a project may be a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI). The designation of a Co-PI does not affect the PI’s role as having primary responsibility for directing the research, financial oversight, and compliance with relevant university policies and sponsor terms and conditions.

Principal Investigator

A University at Buffalo (UB) faculty or staff member who bears responsibility for the intellectual leadership of a project. The PI accepts overall responsibility for directing the research, financial oversight, and compliance with relevant university policies and sponsor terms and conditions.

Sponsored Project

Any externally funded research, training, evaluative testing, or public service project directed by UB faculty or staff as part of their university work that requires the university to perform a specified program or deliver a specified.

• Provost
• Vice Presidents and Vice Provosts
• Deans and Associate Deans
• Department Chairs
• Principal Investigators
• Sponsored Projects Services staff

• Obtain eligibility to serve as PI prior to making an application for sponsored project funding
• Comply with this and all other applicable UB policies

• Promote faculty and staff awareness of this policy
• Approve for submission only those sponsored project applications from individuals who qualify to serve as a PI under this policy

• Approve PI eligibility for Emeritus, Adjunct, or Visiting Professors
• Approve PI eligibility for students seeking Co-PI status

• Approve PI eligibility for non-academic professional staff

• Approve PI eligibility for non-academic professional staff
• On rare occasions, grant an exception to this policy

• Submit only those applications for sponsored project funding from an eligible PI or eligible Co-PIs