"PI" has two functions in most people's systems, and they usually are not
differentiated.

As the individual responsible for the planning and execution of the
science, we identify any individual as PI who is approved by chair and
dean; explicitly an NIH postdoctoral fellow could fill this role.

As the individual who can be the "responsible person" on the financial
account supporting a sponsored program, we allow only individuals who are
employees to serve, because employees have certain legally defined
fiduciary responsibilities to the institution.  So when we get an award for
a postdoctaoral fellowship, the responsible person is the fellow's mentor.

Clear as mud, isn't it!

Chuck

At 11:12 AM 2/26/01 -0500, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I was wondering how many institutions out there allow postdocs and or
>graduated students to be  PIs for those activities which the sponsoring
>agency designates them as PIs. For example, in applying for an NIH
>postdoctoral fellowship, the application requires a faculty sponsor but the
>proposal must be written by the postdoc and the award is made in the
>postdoc's name.
>
>How do you list them in your database? Is the faculty sponsor the PI or is
>the Postdoc. We currently list the faculty sponsor as the PI and the
>postdoc as the co-I because its our institutions policy to require a PI to
>have a faculty appointment. We request this information because we are
>considering changing this policy.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Beverly A.Blakeney
>Assistant Director
>Office of Sponsored Programs
>University of Vermont
>340 Waterman Building
>Burlington, VT 05405
>Phone 802-656-3360/ Fax 802-656-1326
>
>
>======================================================================
>Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
>subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
>via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
>======================================================================

Herbert B. Chermside, CRA
Director, Sponsored Programs Administration
Virginia Commonwealth University
PO BOX 980568
Richmond, VA  23298-0568
Express Delivery Only:
 Sanger Hall, Rm. 1-073
 11th & Marshall Streets
 Richmond, VA  23219
Voice:  804-828-6772
Fax     804-828-2521
OFFICE e-mail   xxxxxx@VCU.EDU
Personal e-mail xxxxxx@vcu.edu
http://views.vcu.edu/ospa/

======================================================================
 Instructions on how to use the RESADM-L Mailing List, including
 subscription information and a web-searchable archive, are available
 via our web site at http://www.hrinet.org (click on "Listserv Lists")
======================================================================