Postdoctoral Scholars and Principal Investigator Status
Principal Investigator status is granted only to permanent university unclassified employees, e.g. faculty and academic staff. Postdoctoral appointees are categorized as employees-in-training and as such are not eligible to serve or be listed as the principal investigator on extramural support awards or proposals.
Postdoctoral scholars may only be listed as principal investigators when it is expected that should the grant be awarded they would move from the employee-in-training category into an appropriate research academic staff or faculty position. Such a proposed change in status requires their department's approval, their dean's approval and the approval of the Director of Research and Sponsored Programs prior to the submission of a grant or contract proposal.
Departments may choose to permit postdoctoral scholars to be listed as Co-Principal Investigators. No formal approval is required.