First-Time Investigators

Any person whose home department is in the UW School of Medicine must hold one of the following academic titles in order to be a Principal Investigator (PI) on a grant. 

  • Professor
  • Research Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Research Associate Professor
  • Assistant Professor
  • Research Assistant Professor
  • Instructor
  • Lecturer

Note: In the School of Medicine, professional staff may not serve as PIs on grants.

The following academic titles are eligible to submit a grant application only by exception. 
  • Acting
  • Affiliate
  • Clinical
  • Emeritus
  • Senior Fellow with pending faculty appointment

For faculty with these titles, a letter of support from the Division Head must accompany the proposal. Please confer with the Division Administrator to obtain this letter.

Getting Started

A useful guide to writing grants can be found on the website of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). Faculty members considering developing a grant proposal are encouraged to visit OSP's MyResearch Project Lifecycle information prior to meeting with the Division Administrator. 

When in doubt, refer to OSP's website or ask administrative staff.