Pete used the phrase "Institutional Investment". That's huge. Faculty rank doesn't matter much--except to the institution. If the institution is willing to 'sponsor' a PI, that's good enough for NIH as far as eligibility is concerned. After that, it's up to the applicant to convince reviewers that s/he can get the work done--under the conditions s/he's working under at the institution. Does s/he have the expertise? The lab space? Staff, or the ability to recruit it? Access to the necessary equipment? And how likely is it that s/he will hang around until the work gets done--or switch to another institution that's at least as well equipped, taking the grant with him/her?

It's had to fund inexperienced investigators. NIH tries, but a track-record of accomplishment is a powerful argument for an experienced investigator--and a lack of one is hard to overcome. If reviewers sense that the institution's commitment to an investigator (lab space? guaranteed salary? a tenure-track commitment?)  is lukewarm, NIH's commitment probably will be lukewarm, too.

Cheers,
Jim

Jim Austin, Ph.D.
Editor
ScienceCareers
http://www.sciencecareers.org
Tel: 207.712.5445
Email: xxxxxx@aaas.org
************************************************************************

>>> Charlie Hathaway <xxxxxx@AECOM.YU.EDU> 9/12/2008 8:49 AM >>>
Yes Yes Yes.  Well said.

In talks on grantsmanship I usually have a slide (or 10) that
addresses"eligibility vs. competitiveness".

And a big problem is that some titles (e.g. "Instructor") mean
different things in different schools AND in different departments
within the same school.  For reviewers this leads to questions
unanswered at best, and confusion at worst.  And we all know how
happy reviewers are when they are confused.

CH

At 08:06 AM 9/12/2008, you wrote:
>Charlie:
>
>It think the short answer to your question is "no" they do not care
>about titles per se... although they must obviously be suitably
>qualified to do what is proposed, etc.
>
>I bet I have been asked this at least annually for the past fifteen
>years, usually by people trying to get faculty titles or
>promotions.  They never believe me when I tell them no. But I have
>never found a specific requirement anywhere.  Unfortunately, I have
>had a number of senior faculty members that serve on NIH review
>groups say that they do notice title and it does have some influence
>on their assessment of proposals.  I guess as it relates to the
>qualifications of the individual and the level of institutional
>investment in that person.
>
>Pete
>
>
>
> >>> Charlie Hathaway <xxxxxx@AECOM.YU.EDU> 9/11/2008 12:06 PM >>>
>Can someone confirm that NIH has (for the typical research grant)
>zero rules about WHO can be a PI.
>
>i.e. postdoc, Adjunct Prof, Asst Prof, Full Prof, Prof Emeritus, etc
>as PI...if an institution backs the proposal, NIH will review?
>
>thanks
>
>Charlie
>
>
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