Identifying PHS Investigators
Guidance for Identifying PHS Investigators
PHS defines Investigator as the Project Director or Principal Investigator and any other person, regardless of title or position, who is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of PHS-funded research, or proposed research. Investigators may include collaborators or consultants.
Principal Investigators (PIs) are responsible for appropriately identifying individuals who meet this definition for each proposal and award. The NIH definition of senior/key person and Investigator are closely related. To assist with appropriate identification of Investigators, we have developed an Investigator Matrix that summarizes titles and roles and offers guidance to PIs. Note that this matrix is provided for guidance purposes only; PIs must still make a determination on a case-by-case basis.
| TITLE AND/OR ROLE | SENIOR/KEY PERSONNEL* | INVESTIGATOR** | GUIDANCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| PI (Principal Investigator)/ PD (Project Director) | Always | Always | Includes multi-PIs. |
| Co-Investigator | Always | Always | Are named at the PD/PI’s discretion. Are involved with the PD/PI in the scientific development or execution of a project. May include research scientists, senior research scientists and senior postdoctoral associates, although this is not common. The designation of a co-investigator, if applicable, does not affect the PD/PI’s roles and responsibilities. |
| Graduate or Postdoctoral Fellows paid on fellowships (vs. research grants) | Always | Generally | |
| Sponsor for Postdoctoral or Graduate Fellows | Always | Sometimes | |
| Graduate or Postdoctoral Fellows paid on training grants | RarelyƗ | RarelyƗ | |
| Postdoctorals paid on research grants | Sometimes | Sometimes | In most instances, postdoctorals, while engaged in research, do so under the guidance and mentorship of a PI and do not meet the criteria necessary to be categorized as Senior/Key and/or Investigator. |
| Graduate Students paid on research grants | RarelyƗ | RarelyƗ | Only in rare circumstances would a graduate student meet the criteria of Senior/Key. They are in training and conduct research under the guidance and mentorship of a PI. |
| Other Significant Contributors | Never | RarelyƗ | These individuals are typically included with “Effort of zero person months” or “as needed.” Per NIH, these are not acceptable levels of involvement for those designated as Senior/Key or Investigator. |
| Consultants | RarelyƗ | RarelyƗ | Consultants are individuals who generally provide a ‘fee for service’ and do not typically conduct research. They may provide insight and expertise to the PI but independently are not responsible for the design, conduct or reporting of research. In most cases, they do not meet the definition of Investigator. If a non-ECU employee is responsible for conducting research, that research should be conducted through their home institution, and they should be included in the proposal as a subrecipient and, as such, are entitled to intellectual property rights. The PI on a subaward is considered an Investigator, as defined by the PHS regulations. |
| Collaborators (unpaid) | Never | RarelyƗ | Unpaid collaborators do not contribute measurable effort and do not meet the criteria of Senior/Key. |
| Collaborators (paid) at ECU | Sometimes | Sometimes | |
| Subrecipient PIs | Always | Always | ECU requires that subrecipient Investigators comply with the PHS-compliant FCOI policy of their home institution. |
*Senior/Key Personnel: As identified in the grant application, progress report, or any other report submitted to the PHS. The program director/principal investigator (PD/PI) and other individuals who contribute to the scientific development or execution of a project in a substantive, measurable way, whether or not they request salaries or compensation.
**Investigator: The PD/PI and any other person, regardless of title or position, who is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of research funded by the PHS, or proposed for such funding, which may include, for example, collaborators or consultants.
Ɨ Rarely: This level of frequency for individual Investigator determinations still requires evaluation by the PI in order to more sufficiently determine who is responsible for the design, conduct, or reporting of the research.
Matrix adapted from Yale University