University of Oregon Principal Investigator (PI) Status Policy

Automatic Eligibility
Principal Investigator (PI) status is automatically conferred on those who hold a tenure-track or tenured position and those who hold the title senior research associate. Retired faculty who qualified as a PI prior to retirement are eligible to act as PI.

Exceptions
Exceptions may be granted for those who do not meet the above automatic eligibility requirements. Authority to grant exceptions is vested in the Vice President for Research or his/her designee. Exceptions to the policy will be considered for UO employees (research and non research titles), postdoctoral researchers, matriculated students of the UO, or faculty with academic titles such as courtesy, visiting or adjunct.

Officers of administration and staff must request PI status as described in the procedures document to pursue a grant or contract for external funding for programs or other activities that run through the Office of Research Services and Administration (ORSA), unless the issue was explicitly addressed in their hiring paperwork and cleared with the Vice President’s office at the time of hire.

Click link below for procedures to obtain an exception:
UO Policy on Eligibility for the Submission of Extramural Support Proposals
and Procedures for Obtaining Exceptions

For further assistance, contact Moira Kiltie, Assistant Vice President for Research (541-346-3188).

Additional UO Policy Information
See the Office of Research Services and Administration (ORSA) website at the following links:
PI Status Policy and Automatic Eligibility
Sponsored Project Administrator (SPA) contact information by department