Principal Investigator Eligibility Policy Revised

The University at Buffalo is committed to meeting its obligations to sponsors and complying with all applicable requirements to establish, administer, and monitor sponsored activity. In the conduct of sponsored activity, the Principal Investigator (PI) bears primary responsibility for the intellectual leadership of a project and accepts overall responsibility for directing the project’s progress, overseeing financial transactions, and complying with sponsor terms, conditions, policies, and procedures. To serve as a PI, the investigator must personally participate in the project.

All proposals in support of sponsored activity require approval of the PI’s department chair before submission to the sponsor. Approval acknowledges that:

• The proposed PI has the necessary skills and authority to perform the proposed work;
• Appropriate facilities and effort will be made available by the department/school for the sponsored activity; and
• Project and budgetary oversight will be provided by or for the benefit of UB.

Full review. Updated the policy to:

• Add a formal policy statement
• Add the following titles as automatically eligible to serve as PI: Research Scientist, Principal Research Scientist, Senior Research Scientist
• Add the title of Postdoctoral Associate as eligible to serve as a PI with the prior written approval of the PI’s dean
• Clarify that academic appointees who hold any Visiting Faculty title may serve as a PI on a sponsored project only with the prior written approval of the PI’s dean
• Clarify that students may serve as PIs if the sponsor explicitly permits student PIs and recognizes them as such; a faculty mentor is required in all cases
• Clarify that the appointment or designation of a Co-PI does not alter the PI’s role or responsibilities under this policy (Policy Statement - Eligibility)
• Add a Compliance section
• Revise the definition of Co-PI to clarify that Co-PI may be a Co-Investigator or the term that complies with what is permitted or recognized by the sponsor
• Add a definition for Faculty Mentor, Sponsor, and Sponsored Activity

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