For grant applications, eligibility criteria are established to specify who can serve as PI. These criteria apply to all faculty, staff, and employees at SIU School of Medicine.
The Principal Investigator (PI), also known as the Project Director (PD) on training and service grants, is the lead individual responsible for overseeing a sponsored project. This includes the project’s design, scientific and technical execution, administration, fiscal management, accountability, and reporting.
PI Eligibility
Eligibility | Approval Process |
|---|---|
Faculty (at least 50% FTE); | Eligible, Department Chair approval needed |
Faculty (less than 50% FTE); | Eligible, Department Chair approval needed, as well as Supervisor approval if relevant |
Faculty Emeritus | Salary must be included on grant, so that the PI would be employed by SIU School of Medicine at an appropriate level, if the application is funded; With employment, status changes from Emeritus to part-time faculty member; Department Chair approval needed |
Adjunct Faculty | Eligible only if an SIU School of Medicine faculty member agrees to serves as Principal Investigator (PI); Adjunct faculty member can be Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) |
Volunteer Faculty | Eligible only if an SIU School of Medicine faculty member agrees to serves as Principal Investigator (PI); Volunteer faculty member can be Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) |
Post-doctoral Fellows | Cannot serve as Principal Investigator unless stated as eligible in the funding agency guidelines, program announcement, or request for proposals; may be identified as Co-Principal Investigator for sponsored projects, if eligible principal investigator listed |
Staff Scientists | Cannot serve as Principal Investigator unless stated as eligible in the funding agency guidelines, program announcement, or request for proposals; Department Chair and immediate supervisor approval needed |
Residents | Cannot serve as Principal Investigator (PI) unless stated as eligible in the funding agency program announcement, or request for proposals; SIU School of Medicine faculty member must serve as either Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) or mentor, Department Chair and immediate supervisor approval needed |
Non-SIU School of Medicine Employees or Trainees | Not eligible to serve as Principal Investigator (PI)
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Other Team Roles:
A Co-Investigator (Co-I) is a Senior/Key member of a research team who collaborates closely with the principal investigator (PI) to achieve the objectives of a project. A Co-Investigator (Co-I) plays a critical role in a research team by collaborating closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) to achieve project goals. They contribute specialized expertise that complements the team's overall capabilities and actively participate in shaping the scientific and intellectual direction of the project. Co-Investigators may share oversight responsibilities with the PI, assist in managing specific portions of the budget, and contribute to preparing technical reports and meeting award requirements. Additionally, they may take the lead on particular components of the research, ensuring those segments align with the broader objectives while providing crucial support to the team’s overall efforts. Their role is essential in fostering collaboration and ensuring the success of the project.
A Collaborator is a Senior/Key member of a research team who contributes actively to the project by providing unique expertise that complements the skills of the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Investigators. Unlike Co-Investigators, who often share the PI’s area of expertise and help guide the overall scientific direction, Collaborators offer distinct knowledge or specialized capabilities that enhance the research effort. Their role is flexible across disciplines, but they are typically included as senior/key personnel, with their contributions clearly defined in Personnel Justifications and Letters of Support. Collaborators may receive compensation through grant funding, including salary paid based on effort or through sub awards if affiliated with other institutions. In some cases, senior-level collaborators may choose to contribute part-time for credit, such as future publication opportunities, instead of monetary payment.
A Consultant offers specialized advice or services to support a research project, often addressing specific gaps such as providing software, delivering technical assistance or training, or setting up equipment. While they may participate significantly in the project, consultants are typically involved in a more targeted capacity compared to collaborators or co-investigators. They are listed as senior/key personnel only if their contributions are both substantive and measurable in advancing the scientific development or execution of the project. Unlike salaried team members, consultants are compensated through a fee. Their role is pivotal in enhancing the project by bringing in expertise that complements the core research team.
Other Significant Contributors (OSCs) are individuals who provide valuable contributions to the scientific development or execution of a project but do so without committing a specified or measurable level of effort, such as person months or percent effort. Examples of OSCs include mentors for career development awards or consultants available on an as-needed basis. While OSCs are not classified as senior/key personnel, their roles and qualifications must still be documented, often through biosketches. In grant applications, OSCs are typically listed with "effort of zero person months" or "as needed," reflecting their flexible and supportive involvement in the project.