Criteria for Principal Investigator eligibility

Faculty who hold regular (tenured or tenure-track) appointments in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) may serve as principal investigator (PI) on research grants, contracts, and other sponsored projects per the Board of Regents policy on Submitting and Accepting Sponsored Projects.

These criteria are for eligibility to serve as PI on sponsored projects administered by CEHD. For criteria for eligibility to serve as PI on a research project involving human research participants governed by the Institutional Review Board, please see the IRB Investigator Manual.

PI conditions

Non-regular faculty and other academic employees interested in serving as principal investigator must meet the following conditions:

  1. Documented participation in the responsible conduct of research core curriculum as required by the University.
  2. Obtained an advanced degree or specialized technical knowledge appropriate to the work.
  3. Demonstrated a track record of effective fiscal and scientific/technical management of at least one externally funded project for at least two years. This experience should include participation in grant preparation, project management and work as a co-principal investigator or project director.
  4. Maintained systematic connections to the teaching, research, or outreach missions of the College and University.

Procedures for requesting and conferring PI status

Individuals seeking PI status must submit an updated copy of their vita and a written request to their department chair or center director. This request should address the criteria noted above. The department chair/center director will then make a recommendation to the associate dean for research and policy about conferring PI status.

Special circumstances permitting students to become PIs

In special situations when a funding agency requires that a student be the principal investigator, the student may do so. However, the student must be supervised by a faculty member or academic staff member with active PI status. Graduate students may also serve as co-investigator on grants, contracts and external sales projects at the discretion of the PI and approval by the department chair or center director.

University of Minnesota principles

CEHD adheres to University of Minnesota policies and procedures regarding management of sponsored projects. As stated in theBoard of Regents policy on Submitting and Accepting Sponsored Projects adopted: 02/09/2007, the following principles apply:

  1. Conferring PI status in no way affects the rights, claims, and duties of academic staff members as may be specified in the tenure code or elsewhere. In particular, PI status does not imply any commitment on the part of the University of Minnesota to any subsequent appointment beyond the term of appointment then in effect.
  2. All grant proposals must continue to follow the regular oversight and review processes of the College and University (e.g., proposal routing forms (PRFs) must be signed by the appropriate department chair or center director and the dean or the dean’s designee).
  3. Per University policy, fixed-price specific performance based contracts will only be approved if the proposed PI is a member of the regular tenured/tenure-track faculty. Exceptions may be made in cases where the department chair/director and/or dean have certified that the project can be completed as required by the contract.
  4. Without exception, all hires into faculty and/or academic staff positions must follow appropriate affirmative action/equal opportunity policies and procedures.