Recently DER was asked to provide definitions regarding project roles for project personnel. Below is a great article from OSP that helps define roles. Be sure to use the article below when determining the role for senior personnel in your proposal.
Proposal Collaborators: Identify Wisely by Craig O'Neill and Dana deMink, OSP
When the PI is selecting investigators for a proposal, care should be taken to identify their appropriate role. Choosing ineligible investigators or mis-categorizing collaborators as principal investigators, can increase the difficulty of proposal preparation and create potential award processing delays. It can also increase compliance issues (e.g. financial conflict of interest certification, training, etc.) and complicate project management and reporting requirements. MSU’s PI (also referred to as Project Director or PD) has the option of including a collaborator as either a Co-PI, subaward PI, Key Personnel (e.g. Co-Investigator) or an Other Significant Contributor (OSC – which may include a consultant) in an application to the sponsor.
The differences between each designation may sometimes appear minor but can have a substantial impact on the direction or control of your project. For example, a Co-PI usually has the ability to communicate directly with the sponsor with or without the PI’s input or approval. A subaward PI usually cannot have direct communications with the sponsor nor would they have the same level of responsibility for the overall project, which gives the lead PI more control over the overall project.
Each sponsor can have its own definitions of PI, Co-PI, Subaward PI, Key Personnel/Co-I and OSC. Please pay close attention to the eligibility requirements of the Sponsor’s RFP. For example, it is not unusual in a fellowship proposal for the sponsor to require that the fellow be identified as the PI during the dissertation stage of their training.
Tip: Depending upon a fellow’s level of education, he or she may not be able to approve and complete their certifications and disclosures in the KC system. Use the following link to learn how to establish a NetID and ZPID as well as to work with the KC Helpdesk to set up an affiliation for that individual: https://osp.msu.edu/PL/Portal/DocumentViewer.aspx?cga=aQBkAD0AMQAxADMAOQA=
Subject to varying sponsor requirements, here are some basic definitions and general guidelines to follow:
- The PI/Co-PI:
- Is an individual viewed by the applicant organization to have the appropriate level of authority and responsibility to direct a project or program.
- Is generally defined as those who are responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of the funded research.
- Has the responsibility for overseeing the project intellectually, logistically, and financially.
- Is responsible and accountable to the applicant organization, sponsor, and any collaborating organizations for the proper conduct of the project including conducting the project ethically, following financial and compliance regulations, and submitting all required reports punctually.
- The subaward PI/Co-PI is generally defined as those who are responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of the specific subaward statement of work and related subaward funding amount, and as stated earlier, does not have direct communication with MSU’s sponsor.
When subawards are included in the project, the subawardee’s Co-PI(s) can be considered part of senior personnel, if appropriate to role and sponsor definitions.
- Collaborators who are not financially responsible (i.e. do not have the responsibility and ability to control the expenses of a project) should not be included in the proposal as a Co-PI.
- Key personnel investigators (Key Personnel/Co-I) are generally defined as other individuals who contribute to the scientific development or execution of a project in a substantive, measurable way, whether or not they receive salaries or compensation under the grant.
- Other Significant Contributors (OSC)
are individuals whom commit to contribute to the scientific development or execution of the project, but do not commit any specified measurable effort (i.e., person months) to the project. These individuals are typically presented at effort of “zero person months” or "as needed". Note: Consultants should be included as an OSC if they meet this definition. This is a NIH designation.
- Adjunct faculty, research associates, and clinical faculty are not normally considered eligible for PI/Co-PI status. Depending on project and sponsor, in some circumstances, it may be appropriate to request PI exception approval from Office of Research & Innovation (ORI). See the following link for more information about acquiring PI exception approval: https://www.cga.msu.edu/PL/Portal/DocumentViewer.aspx?cga=aQBkAD0AMwA4ADkA
If you have additional questions regarding project roles and existing internal or external rules/requirements, please send an email to proposals@egr.msu.edu.
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