OSU has specific guidelines about who may serve as a PI for projects being administered by the OSU Research Foundation. This information is available at this web site: http://www.rf.ohio?state.edu/pdp/pdp71.htm . Both faculty and A& P County Extension Agents and District Specialists may serve as PI s. But, just because you can be a PI, doesn't mean that you should casually volunteer for the job.

Knowing when it is appropriate to be the PI for a project is easy: the project fits within your program responsibilities; the project will enhance or expand your program efforts in a positive way; and you are:

• Prepared to provide leadership, support, and guidance to the people who may be hired to do the day-to-day work;
• Committed to the project and to keeping efforts and resources directed toward the outcomes promised in the proposal and/or contract;
• Involved enough with the project and/or the people to be able to write or review required progress and final reports, and see that they are completed and submitted on time;
• Confident you can approve expenditures and timesheets that will be paid from project's funds because you will be familiar with the project;
• Familiar with the budget because you have been involved with its preparation and are confident you can keep the project within it;
• Prepared, in the event project costs exceed the awarded amount, to cover the project overrun from some other acceptable and pre-determined source.

There may be times when you should not serve as the PI for a project because you are not prepared, willing, and/or able to accept the fiscal responsibility and other obligations that may be part of the conditions of receiving the funds. Carefully review who and what will be involved as you consider becoming the PI of a certain project. If you don't, you may find yourself with unexpected and unplanned responsibilities - obligations that may be very time-consuming. Signing an "Authorization to Seek Off-Campus Funding" form takes only only a few seconds. When you do so, you need to be prepared to contribute 100% of the effort you promise to the people who provide the funding, the people who may be hired to deliver the project, as well as others who will be participants in project activities.

Jackie LaMuth, Coordinator, Resource Development and Management
lamuth.12@osu.edu
614-292-6470