Roles and Responsibilities

Your Responsibilities

As a principal investigator (PI) conducting research at Idaho State University, you have an obligation to the institution, to granting agencies, and to the public at large to carry out your work with the highest possible standards of integrity and commitment to excellence. Please ensure that your research and the work of your research staff always are conducted with the following fundamental principles in mind:

The highest ethical standards are consistently understood and applied.
All research complies with federal, state, and local laws.
University and School policies related to your research are well understood and followed, including policies on conflict of interest and conflict of commitment.
Researchers under your guidance get proper training in laboratory techniques, environmental safety, animal and human subjects protection, the responsible conduct of research, and other appropriate topics specific to your work.
All research is conducted using established protocols.
Record keeping is meticulous.
Practices and processes to apply for grants, develop budgets, submit proposals, track financial transactions, and report expenditures as required by the University and the research sponsor are handled timely, accurately, and in compliance with all established terms and conditions.
If you are unsure about policies or processes related to your research, that you will contact the appropriate office within your School or the Office of Research and Economic Development.

The responsibilities of the PI include:

Working with Research Development to receive guidance and support for pre-award steps.
Determining appropriate funding opportunities.
Preparing proposals and budgets.
Obtaining letters of commitment from subawards, consultants, and other third parties.
Identifying cost-share.
Identify additional approvals such as Human Subjects and Animal Welfare.
Preparing and routing relevant forms – preferably 5 working days prior to agency deadline.
Working with Research Development for acceptance of award and contract negotiation, subaward contracts, and other non-financial post-award steps.
Preparing revised budget and scope of work as necessary.
Working with Grants and Contracts Accounting to set-up and manage your award.
Initiating No-Cost Time Extensions and other post-award changes.
Submitting copies of financial reporting to the Research Development and Grants and Contracts Accounting.

Office for Research and Economic Development

Division for Research Development

The Division for Research Development is the University’s central research administration office that manages the administrative processes related to externally-funded research. Specifically, Research Development is responsible for pre-award and non-financial post-award functions.
The responsibilities of Research Development include,

Working with PI to identify funding sources
Assisting PI in interpreting eligibility for funding
Providing guidance on proposal preparation
Assisting the PI with development of budget, as needed
Responsible for all submissions of all proposals. Prior to submission, Research Development will review and get final approval from the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR)
Negotiating contractual terms and conditions as needed
Coordinate resolutions with sponsors
Submission of No-Cost Time extensions and other post-award changes.

Division for Research Integrity

The Division for Research Integrity ensures compliance with the regulations and policies associated with the funding.

Research Integrity will monitor for sponsored project rules, regulations, guidelines, and policies.

Office of Grants and Contracts Accounting

Grants and Contract Accounting is responsible for various post-award and cash management functions. For more details: http://www.isu.edu/finserv/grants.shtml.

Idaho State University