Ditto what Herb Chermside said, except that we very strongly urge investigators
to use the term "coinvestigator" rather than "co-principal investigator."  Of
course, most of our applications go to NIH, so the issue seldom arises.

Herbert B. Chermside wrote:

> Long, long ago there was the concept of "Corresponding PI".  This was the
> PI among a group of co-PI's who got saddled with tha administrative burden
> of handling all the project's aqdministration, while all the co-PI's shared
> equally in the science.  Many researchers hark back to this in their own
> concept of "co-PI".
>
> NIH recognizes only one PI because the responsibility for the
> administrative -- and scientific -- decisions which have to be made on a
> project should be the responsiobility of one individual.
>
> Some other agencies recognize co-investigators as equals, at least
> scientifically, and have no recognition of a single individual being
> "responsible" (though they often correspond with the first name listed).
>
> So, an institution's treatment of the "co-investigator" concept depends on
> hot the institution itself approaches management of research projects.  In
> my experience, unless there is a single individual with both the
> responsibility and the authority to manage the project, necessary things
> won't get done, and everybody thinks, "George was supposed to do that!"
> So, whatever the name you give the position, one person should be in charge
> and is best called "PI", and other scientific colleagues (with heavy
> scientific responsibilities in the project) should be called "co-PI", and
> the relationship among the researchers is the responsibility of the PI.
>
> Of course, the concept of credit comes up, especially if promotion, tenure,
> and salary review rely heavily on individuals' research activity.  If the
> sponsored programs office's records are relied on as a record of the
> activities toward P&T&$, then the question of what activities are recorded
> and with what "title" is one which should be answered in collaboration with
> senior academic decision makers.
>
> The duties of a co-PI probably are, scientifically, technically and
> academically, on a level with the PI (not the same duties, or why two
> people), without the additional management duty of formal leadership.
>
> Chuck
>
> At 10:29 AM 3/8/99 -0500, you wrote:
> >I'm looking for a good definition of a Co-Principal Investigator.   I
> >noticed in the NIH Manual that a Co-PI is not formally recognized by
> >NIH.  NIH staff conduct official business only with the PI and AIO.
> >
> >I'd like to know how you would define the roles/duties of the Co-PI on a
> >grant.
> >
> >Thank you,
> >
> >Eleanor Cicinsky
> >Temple University
> >
> >
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> Herbert B. Chermside, CRA
> Director, Sponsored Programs Administration
> Virginia Commonwealth University
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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

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