Researchers who are not members of the Academic Council or the MCL faculty may be approved to serve as PIs on a class of projects generically referred to as Career Development Awards, whose stated purpose is to advance the individual's scientific career. Such petitions may be approved if the project is to be carried out under the mentorship of an established faculty investigator, who is named in the proposal, and if the project can be conducted within the overall intellectual scope and laboratory space of the faculty mentor.

Download Template for Career Development Award PI Waiver

This ONE-TIME ONLY opportunity is restricted to only one grant application and its allowable resubmissions, with no possibility of additional applications or resubmissions beyond those allowable for the specific grant application. The extramural research grant, either federal or non-federal must provide at least $125,000 in direct costs per year for at least two years. 

Required Steps

Step 1: The Primary Mentor discusses the candidate and the waiver with his/her department chair.

Step 2: If the department chair approves proceeding with the waiver request, then the primary mentor should call Dr. Harry Greenberg, the Associate Dean for Research, to discuss the potential candidate after s/he has obtained support from the Department Chair.

Step 3:  Submit waiver request by deadline at least 6 weeks prior to the sponsor’s deadline:

Annual Deadlines: January 15, March 15, May 15, July 15, September 15, November 15

Step 4: Prepare and submit the waiver request packet:

Please send ONE PDF file containing the following, in the order listed below, via email attachment to: Chelsey Perry, Funding Opportunities Manager, Research Management Group (RMG)

4.1. Expanded Career Development PI Waiver Cover Memo. Download, complete, and obtain all of the necessary signatures on the required PI Waiver Cover Memo. 

4.2. Memo prepared by mentor and co-signed by mentor, division chief, and department chair. Download and complete the Expanded Career Development PI waiver template.

4.3.  2 page description of research project - include project title, bold headings (i.e., goal, aims, etc.), and references

4. 4. Applicant's biosketch

All Clinician Educator (CE) Faculty at the rank of clinical assistant professor and above who are full-time Stanford employees with 100% CE faculty appointments are eligible to request CE Faculty PI waivers. Clinical Instructors are not eligible for CE Faculty PI waivers. In addition, the research must conform to the NIH definition of Clinical Research and cannot involve/require "bench/lab-based" activities conducted by or resources required specifically for the CE requesting the waiver. Exceptions evaluated on a case-by-case basis, more here.

Download Template for Clinician Educator PI Waiver 

“Large Interdisciplinary Program" is defined as a research program which: a) is directed by a member of the Academic Council or MCL faculty, b) has an expected duration beyond the involvement of any individual faculty participant, c) has more than one faculty member involved, and d) requires expertise in more than one discipline or technical area. All of the following conditions must be met in order for the Department Chair and School Dean to approve the PI Waiver in such cases:

1. The proposed project must be a demonstrably important component of the success of the overall interdisciplinary program, as defined above.

2. There is no member of the Academic Council or MCL faculty associated with the large interdisciplinary project who is qualified to take responsibility for the scientific direction of the prospective research project.

3. No incremental space will be required for the project.

4. For each graduate student participating on the project, a qualified faculty member has been identified to assure that the student's research program and the education derived from it are consistent with the degree for which the student is a candidate.

5. Exceptions approved under this provision will be reported to the Dean of Research on an annual basis.

Download Template for Large Interdisciplinary Program PI Waiver

Faculty whose appointment start date is in the future may apply for a waiver to submit proposals through Stanford during the interim provided the project period start date is not prior to the appointment start date, and the appointment has been approved by the Provost. In addition, an award cannot be accepted until the member’s appointment has begun.

Download Template for Early PI ship Waiver

Researchers who are not members of the Academic Council or the MCL faculty may be approved to serve as PIs on externally sponsored projects whose sole purpose is to fund short conferences, exhibits, workshops, or other public events of a character appropriate to the University. Grants to fund travel to conferences also would meet the criteria.

Download Template for Conferences, Exhibits, Workshops, or Public Events