The Stanford Research Policy Handbook (section 2.1) specifies the eligibility to serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on a sponsored project. Those without PI eligibility will need to obtain a PI waiver. This page includes PI waivers types and procedures for preparing PI waiver requests. All PI waivers in the School of Medicine require review by your Research Process Manager (RPM, find your RPM) in the Research Management Group (RMG).
Download the PI Waiver Toolkit: 1-page guide to PI eligibility and PI waiver processes
How to request a PI Waiver
We recommend PI Waivers are submitted 4 weeks in advance of the proposal due date.
Steps for Requesting a PI Waiver in the Department of Pediatrics:
1. Identify the appropriate PI Waiver based on your eligibility (more below and here).
2. Download and complete the PI Waiver template *No need to obtain your Division Chief signature*.
3. Fill out the Pediatrics PI Waiver Request Form and attach the unsigned PI Waiver. An automatic email will be sent to your Division Chief or other Division designee requesting approval of your PI Waiver. Upon approval, the PI Waiver with the Department Chair (Mary Leonard) signature will be returned to you within 5 business days.
4. Attach additional documents listed in the signed PI waiver as a single PDF including:
- Career Development PI waiver, submit these documents in a single PDF to your RPM:
- PI waiver with Mary Leonard’s signature (Dr. Harry Greenberg’s signature is not needed at this point)
- Biosketch for PI’s (this is the Applicant to the Career Development Award)
- Program Announcement (for example attach a PDF of NIH’s FOA website)
- Clinician Education PI waiver, submit these documents in a single PDF to your RPM:
- PI waiver with Mary Leonard’s signature (Dr. Ruth O’Hara’s signature is not needed at this point)
- Biosketch for PI
- Program Announcement (for example attach a PDF of NIH’s FOA website)
- Scope of Work - Detailed description of aims of the study and the purpose of the study
- For Data Use Agreements include within the Scope of Work a description of what data will be shared
- If Stanford will be a subaward, attached a description of the overall study or proposal
5. Submit the PI waiver with the required attachments as a single PDF to your Research Management Group’s RPM or CT RPM (find your RPM). The RPM reviews the documents, submits for review to the School of Medicine Senior Associate Dean for Research (Ruth O'Hara or Harry Greenberg) for approval and then notifies the requestor of the outcome.
Questions about the PI Waiver process within the Department of Pediatrics? Contact Sarah Yeats Patrick (sarahyp@stanford.edu), Pre-Award Manager in the Pediatrics Research Development Office.
Types of PI Waivers
Position |
Available PI Waivers |
Clinical/Medical Fellows & Clinical Instructors (CE) | Career Development |
Instructors |
Expanded Career Development |
Postdoctoral Fellows & Clinical Scholars |
Career Development |
Clinical Educator (CE) faculty |
Career Development (only CE Assistant faculty) |
Academic Staff-Researcher (Research Associates, Senior Research Scientists, Senior Research Scholars) |
Career Development |
Faculty w/future appointment |
Early PI-ship |
Need help preparing grants?
Pediatrics Research Development Office offers free experienced grant writing and pre-award strategic planning
Grant Writing Academy for Graduate Students and Postdocs
Route To Getting Grants (R2G2) for Junior Faculty