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Co-Principal Investigators and Co-Investigators

Co-Principal Investigators (Co-PIs)
In some cases, particularly with multi-site projects, more than one individual is considered as responsible for administrative, fiscal, and scientific conduct of the project. Each person can be named in the proposal and on project documentation as a co-PI, provided this role is accepted by the sponsor (note that not all sponsors, for example, the NIH, allow co-PIs to be named on projects). These individuals must all:

  • meet the criteria listed in the policy on PI Eligibility on Sponsored Projects; and
  • sign the Proposal Routing Form.
If the project is awarded, co-PIs have spending authority on the award and have the responsibility to fulfill the obligations listed in the section on "Principal Investigators."

Although the project may have several co-PIs, one person must be designated as the project leader. This person bears overall scientific, fiscal and administrative responsibility for conducting the project, for meeting the terms and conditions of the award, and for representing the project to the sponsor. This person will be listed first on the proposal and will be listed on the Proposal Routing Form as the principal investigator.

Co-Investigators
In some cases, several individuals conduct the scientific portion of the project. One of these investigators is also given fiscal and administrative responsibility over the project. This individual is designated as the principal investigator while the other investigators will be considered as co-investigators, provided the sponsor accepts the role of co-investigator.

If co-investigators are named in the proposal, they must sign the Proposal Routing Form. The PI must always sign the Proposal Routing Form.

If the project is awarded, co-investigators DO NOT have spending authority on the award unless it is delegated in writing by the PI. This delegation of authority must specify the exact rights being delegated, e.g., hiring, ordering items listed in the budget, making changes to the budget. This document must be retained in departmental files and copies must be sent to the appropriate grant administrator in Sponsored Projects Administration and the Certified Approver for the project.

Although some tasks may be delegated, the PI continues to bear overall scientific, fiscal and administrative responsibility for conducting the project, for meeting the terms and conditions of the award, and for representing the project to the sponsor.

VPR

This document was updated on 8/23/00.
Direct comments or suggestions to sewel005@tc.umn.edu.

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