University Research Board

Committee Responsibility

The University Research Board advises the Dean for Research, the Provost, and the President on matters pertaining to research administration and policy.   The URB has traditionally played a role in the approval of who can serve as a principal investigator at Princeton.

Membership

Chair

Peter Schiffer, Dean for Research. Vice President for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Class of 1909 Professor of Physics

Administrative Officer

Elizabeth Adams, Executive Director, Office of Research and Project Administration

Secretary

Annette Tate, Senior Associate Director for Finance and Administration, Office of the Dean for Research

Members

Wendy L. Belcher, Professor of Comparative Literature and African American Studies

Brigid Doherty, Associate Professor of German and Art & Archaeology

Igor R. Klebanov, Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics

David S. Lee, Chemical Bank Chairman's Professor of Economics and Public Affairs

Jim Matteo, Vice President for Finance and Treasurer, ex officio

Catherine Peña, Assistant Professor of Neuroscience

Rodney D. Priestley, Dean of the Graduate School, ex officio

Clarence W. Rowley, Sin-I Cheng Professor in Engineering Science and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering

Also Meets with the Board

Gene A. Jarrett, Dean of the Faculty, William S. Tod Professor of English
(Alternate Kristine Ryan, Assistant Dean of Compliance)

Kevin Heaney, Vice President for Advancement, Office of the Vice President for Advancement
(Alternate Laurie Russen, Senior Associate Director, Fundraising Initiatives)

Robin Izzo, Assistant Vice President, Environmental Health and Safety

Jennifer Rexford, Provost. Y.S. Wu Professor in Engineering
(Alternate Jed Marsh, Vice Provost for Institutional Research)

Ramona Romero, Vice President and General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel

Meeting Schedule

Meetings begin at 3:30 p.m. remote via Zoom or in-person on campus location.

October 8, 2024
February 11, 2025
May 6, 2025

PI Requests

Requests should be submitted via an Ancillary Review to the University Research Board (URB) in ERA with the accompanying appropriate information as outlined below for each request. Notification to the department of all committee decisions will be transmitted via the ERA system.

The PI Qualification Chart (PDF) outlines the ranks eligible to serve as PI and those that must request PI Status. 

Note that visitors, including visiting faculty, are not eligible to be PI’s at Princeton except in extraordinary circumstances with explicit approval by the Dean for Research. Such approval should typically be requested at least a month in advance.

Sponsored Research Grants

Requests must be made for each grant application prior to submission. Approval to serve as a PI is granted only for the specific proposal(s) identified. The approval letter should be submitted by the department with the proposal to ORPA.

The request should include:

  • The name and department of the PI, all co-PIs and any other Princeton collaborators
  • Letter of support from department or program chairperson providing justification for the individual to serve as PI
  • Applicant’s CV
  • Agency/sponsor and specific program initiative to which the proposal is being submitted
  • Title of the project
  • Amount requested, and budget when possible
  • Deadline date for the proposal
     

Human Subject or Animal Subject Research

Requests must be made for each protocol after consultation with the IRB or IACUC administration. Approval to serve as a PI is granted only for the specific protocol(s) identified. The approval letter should be submitted by the department to the IRB or IACUC.

The request should include:

  • The name and department of the PI and all key personnel on the protocol
  • Letter of support from department or program chairperson providing justification for the individual to serve as PI
  • Applicant's CV, including experience and training with conducting human subject or animal subject research
  • Title, summary and duration of the research project