Research and Scholarship FAQs
PI/USF Eligibility to Apply for an External Grant
The USF guidelines on eligibility to apply for external grants/funds explain who is eligible to be a principal investigator (PI) or project director (PD)
for a sponsored project. The PI must meet these eligibility requirements to submit
a proposal for a grant.
| Faculty in tenure-earning tracks | Faculty in non-tenure accruing tracks |
|---|---|
| Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor | Assistant Scientist,Associate Scientist, Scientist, Assistant Scholar, Associate Scholar, Scholar |
| Assistant Curator, Associate Curator, Curator | Assistant Engineer, Associate Engineer, Engineer |
| Assistant Librarian, Associate Librarian, Instructor Librarian | Assistant Research Professor, Associate Research Professor, Research Professor |
| Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Professor | |
| Assistant, Associate Scholar/Scientist/Engineer Instructor | |
| Research Scientist Assistant, Associate, or Professor | |
| Clinician Educator Assistant, Associate, or Professor | |
| Scientific Educator Assistant, Associate, or Professor | |
| Collaborative Research Scientist Assistant, Associate, or Professor |
Moreover, each type of grant program has its own distinct eligibility requirements. For example, applicants can find eligibility information in section III of each NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA). While the PI conceives and writes the application, NIH recognizes the applicant institution as the recipient for most grant types. In general, domestic or foreigh, public or private, non-profit or for-profit organizations are eligible to receive NIH grants though NIH may limit eligibility for certain types of programs. NSF eligibility information notes that Principal Investigators (PI & co-PIs) must have a tenured, tenure-track, or non-tenure track faculty position and specifies that their institution has qualified them to serve as PI or co-PI. Post doctoral researchers are not allowed to serve as PI or co-PI but they may serve as other personnel.