• Who may become a principal investigator (PI)
• What are co-PIs and co-investigators?
• Faculty sponsored project information as public data
• Intellectual property issues

Education requirement: Completion of education programs in the Responsible Conduct in Research is a condition for principal eligibility for all PIs. If their research involves humans subjects, animal subjects, or hazardous materials, or work with protected health information, specialized training on those topics are also conditions for principal investigator eligibility. PIs are able to submit proposals to potential sponsors but any award they receive will not be processed until the PI has completed these requirements. For information about the program see the Vice President for Research's website at: http://www.research.umn.edu/training/.

What are co-PIs and co-investigators?

Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs)

In some cases, particularly with multi-site projects, more than one individual is considered as responsible for administrative, fiscal, and scientific conduct of the project. Each person can be named in the proposal and on project documentation as a co-PI, provided this role is accepted by the sponsor. All U of M Co-PIs must meet the criteria listed in the policy on policy on Submitting and Accepting Sponsored Projects.

If the project is awarded, co-PIs have spending authority on the award and have the responsibility to fulfill the obligations listed in the section on "Principal Investigators."

Although the project may have several co-PIs, one person must be designated as the project leader. This person bears overall scientific, fiscal and administrative responsibility for conducting the project, for meeting the terms and conditions of the award, and for representing the project to the sponsor. This person will be listed first on the proposal and will be listed on the Proposal Routing Form as the principal investigator.

Co-Investigators

In some cases, several individuals conduct the scientific portion of the project. One of these investigators is also given fiscal and administrative responsibility over the project. This individual is designated as the principal investigator while the other investigators will be considered as co-investigators, provided the sponsor accepts the role of co-investigator.

If the project is awarded, co-investigators DO NOT have spending authority on the award unless it is delegated in writing by the PI. This delegation of authority must specify the exact rights being delegated, e.g., hiring, ordering items listed in the budget, making changes to the budget. This document must be retained in departmental files.

Although some tasks may be delegated, the PI continues to bear overall scientific, fiscal and administrative responsibility for conducting the project, for meeting the terms and conditions of the award, and for representing the project to the sponsor.

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