{"id":351620,"date":"2021-01-22T20:48:02","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T20:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/internalresources\/?page_id=351620"},"modified":"2026-08-28T15:51:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T15:51:28","slug":"pi-eligibility-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cnr.ncsu.edu\/internalresources\/research-office\/resources-and-forms\/pi-eligibility-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Principal Investigator Eligibility and Waiver Request Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n

The Board of Trustees (BOT) of North Carolina State University has established criteria for the appointment of faculty and others to the positions of principal investigator (PI) and co-principal investigator (co-PI) on sponsored research or other scholarly projects, including teaching and extension.\u00a0 The purpose of this document is to provide College of Natural Resources guidance with respect to determination of PI eligibility on sponsored or scholarly projects.\u00a0 This guidance supplements existing NCSU policy located at the following link.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/research.ncsu.edu\/administration\/policies-and-guidance\/pi-eligibility<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Definitions:<\/h3>\n

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Principal Investigator (PI)<\/b>:\u00a0 The individual (or in the case of some NIH projects, the individuals) designated by NC State University, and approved by the sponsor, who will be responsible for the scientific or technical direction of the project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI)<\/b>:\u00a0 An individual designated by NC State University and approved by the sponsor who has substantively complementary responsibility for the scientific or technical direction of all or a portion of a project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Co-Investigator (Co-I)<\/b>:\u00a0 An individual involved in the scientific development or execution of a project. A Co-I typically devotes a specified percentage of time to the project and is considered senior or key personnel.<\/span><\/p>\n

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CNR PI Eligibility Waiver Matrix<\/b><\/h3>\n

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The following table summarizes common situations where non tenure track faculty may hold PI status and the procedure necessary to secure approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
HR Status<\/span><\/td>\nDeemed eligible<\/span>\n

(No waiver)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

With TTF Co-I\u00a0<\/span>\n

(No waiver)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Eligible with approved<\/span>\n

waiver<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Rarely eligible\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nNot eligible<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tenure\/ Tenure Track Faculty<\/span><\/td>\n1<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Non Tenure Track Faculty<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n4<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Adjunct Faculty (paid appointment)<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n3<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Emeritus Faculty<\/span><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
EHRA Non Faculty employee<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n5<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SHRA employee<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n8<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Postdoctoral Associate<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n6<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Student<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n7<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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CNR Summary Policy on Principal Investigator Eligibility<\/b><\/h3>\n

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Individuals not deemed eligible under existing BOT policy can serve as PI\/Co-PI if a <\/span>PI Eligibility Waiver<\/span><\/i> is approved during the proposal development phase.\u00a0 The following is a representative list of common scenarios; other circumstances may arise.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scenarios not requiring a PI Eligibility waiver:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. All <\/span>tenure and tenure-track faculty<\/b> members are eligible to serve as principal investigator on sponsored projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Emeritus faculty<\/b> members are eligible to serve as principal investigator on sponsored projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Adjunct faculty<\/b> on paid termed appointment may be considered for Principal Investigator status provided there is a co-Investigator from the tenured or tenure-track faculty rank of the institution<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Scenarios requiring a PI eligibility waiver:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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    1. Non-tenure-track faculty<\/b> may serve as Principal Investigator with prior approval of their Dean and the Vice Chancellor for Research or designees.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Postdoctoral associates<\/b> are trainees and generally <\/span>not<\/span><\/i> eligible for an exception unless\u00a0<\/span>\n