Our school doesn't include the PI as party to a contract.  For starters,
the space, employees, financial and regulatory apparatus needed to carry
out a project are not the PI's and so it is inappropriate to include the
PI as a party to the agreement.  The agreement may name the PI as PI,
but the parties to it are the corporate entities that employ the folks
who do the work.  Most PIs who read and understand the responsibilities
that a contract imposes on the parties would want not want to be a
party.

--
Peter J. Dolce, Ph.D., Director
Office of Research Support Services
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, TN  37208
P (615) 327 6703
F (615) 327 6716