PrincipaI Investigator (PI) eligibility

The University encourages and supports researchers who wish to apply as a Principal Investigator (PI) on a research grant. 

In order to facilitate this, it is important that the Terms & Conditions of both the funder and the University are met by having the correct contractual arrangements in place to deal with specific requirements and to mitigate any risks.

Who is eligible to be a Principal Investigator (PI)?

A researcher wishing to apply for funding as a Principal Investigator (PI) on a research grant hosted at the University of Cambridge is dependent on three factors:

  • the Head of Department assessment to host the researcher as a PI
  • the funder’s call-specific eligibility criteria
  • the contractual status of the researcher

Head of Department (HoD) Assessment

The HoD makes an initial assessment based on the experience and leadership of the researcher, the size of the potential award and how the research fits strategically within the Department.

 Funder’s call-specific eligibility criteria

The Department needs to establish if the researcher can meet the funder’s Terms & Conditions and PI eligibility criteria. If the researcher does not meet the funder’s PI eligibility criteria they cannot apply for a research grant as PI.

Contractual status

A potential PI must have a contractual obligation at the University of Cambridge. There are three options;

1. The potential PI is employed by the University (e.g. University Teaching Officer - UTO), or will hold a University employment contract having successfully been awarded a research grant. (The PI will have their salary at the University paid out of the grant from the funder).  Anyone in an established University post, or who has held an established University post in the past, who may wish to apply for funding to work on a paid or unpaid basis at any time after their expected retirement date, would need to submit a request to the Retirements Committee under section 7 of the Retirement Policy.

2. The potential PI is employed by a College (College Teaching Office - CTO). A specific contractual template can be used.

3. The potential PI does not and will not hold a formal employment contract at the University for the duration of the research funding award. Instead PIs who are non-University employees will be categorised as a visitor and given an appropriate agreement.  

In this case the Department needs to contact the School’s HR Business Partnering Team for further advice to determine the appropriate contractual arrangements. At the same time the HoD will also need to refer the matter of a non-University employee as PI to the Head of School for approval with regard to the appropriate contractual arrangements, financial oversight and staff management.

If agreed, the potential PI will require a bespoke visitor agreement with the University to be put in place before a research grant / contract application is sent to the funder. These circumstances could include:

  • Associate Lecturers
  • Affiliated staff
  • Employees of other Universities
  • Employees of University Partner Institutions (UPIs)
  • NHS Staff, i.e. employees of NHS Trusts

PIs who are non-University employees are responsible for ensuring that they adhere to any terms and conditions of their employment elsewhere.

If the possible PI does not fall under any of the categories listed above, please approach the School’s HR Business Partnering Team.

How to set up an agreement for a visitor

Contract visitor templates have been set up by the Research Office (RO) and Human Resources (HR) that can be used and modified according to the requirements of each particular individual. To help you work out which type of visitor agreement you may need, you can use this flow chart.

HR has more information on their website about Visitor Agreements.