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Criteria for eligibility as a Principal Investigator

Only the individual who will perform the major part of the direction or management of a project should serve as the Principal Investigator/Project Director (PI).  This rule extends to all sponsored projects, whether basic or applied research, conference activities, credit or non-credit training, etc.

1. Policy of who may serve as Principal Investigator

Only Mason employees on the University’s payroll may serve as Principal Investigators with full financial responsibility for a project.These individuals may be part-time research personnel or may be visiting faculty; however, they may not be affiliate faculty or adjunct faculty.

Affiliate or adjunct faculty may not be the sole directors or principal investigators of a project.  A Mason faculty member, the chair or dean/institute director, must be listed on the project and both will be given the title of Co-Principal Investigator.

Graduate students may apply for and be awarded external funding for projects; however, the student’s faculty advisor or another full-time faculty member must serve as Principal Investigator.

2. Policy of Co-Principal Investigators

Where two individuals choose to be treated as equals in role and responsibility on a sponsored project, they will both be designated as Co-Principal Investigators.  Where one individual will assume primary responsibility for a sponsored project while another shares an almost equal role, the lead investigator will be designated as the Principal Investigator and the second will be designated as Co-Principal Investigator.

In the situation where Co-Principal Investigators receive an award, one PI will be designated as the responsible person and the account will be established in his/her name. All expenditure documents and official correspondence (i.e. re-budget requests, requests for no cost extensions, etc.) will require the signature of the designated signatory.F & A (indirect) cost returns will be distributed as determined in the proposal process and documented on the routing form. Affiliate and adjunct Co-Principal Investigators will not receive a return of F & A costs.

 
 



RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION