The Principal Investigator (PI) of a research project is ultimately responsible for the protection of the human subjects participating in research they conduct or oversee. The PI is expected to abide by the highest ethical standards when developing a research plan and to incorporate the principles of the Belmont Report. The PI is expected to conduct research in accordance with the IRB approved research plan and to personally conduct or oversee all aspects of the research. In addition to complying with all applicable regulatory policies and standards, PIs must comply with organizational and administrative requirements for conducting research. The PI is responsible for ensuring that all investigators and research staff complete all required training as well as training for their specific responsibilities in any given research study.
At the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Faculty and Postdoctoral Fellows are allowed to be Principal Investigators. Graduate and Undergraduate students are not allowed to list themselves as Principal Investigators on iMedRIS applications; however students are still able to create and edit iMedRIS applications if they list themselves as a Co-PI or Sub-Investigator.
If you have questions about PI eligibility, contact us.
| Position | Eligible PI | Eligible to be PI with Dean/Chair Approval | Not Eligible |
| Tenure Track Faculty | X | ||
| Research Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor | X | ||
| Non-tenure Track Faculty Who Are Paid UT Employees | X | ||
| Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor of Instruction | X | ||
| Directors, Chairs, Deans, VPs, AVPs | X | ||
| Affiliate or Clinical Faculty When All Research Will Be Conducted at UT | X | ||
| Research Scientists | X | ||
| Emeritus Faculty | X | ||
| Adjunct Faculty | X | ||
| Lecturers | X | ||
| Visiting Faculty | X | ||
| Librarians | X | ||
| Postdoctoral Fellows | X | ||
| Research Assistants | X | ||
| Undergraduate Students | X | ||
| Graduate Students | X |