Extramurally Funded Research Projects

Extramurally Funded Research Projects Administered by College Research Centers

College research centers are expected to be the submitting and administering organization for research projects consistent with their focused mission. The ability to provide local unit research administration support around projects flowing from funders with similar priorities and rules is a key advantage offered by college research centers.

Grants and contracts, including subcontracts, that can run through a center must meet the following criteria:

• The subject matter is aligned with the focused mission of the center.
• The PI or PD is a PSU faculty member formally affiliated with the center.
   

Extramural grants and contracts, including subcontracts, that run through the center will be referred to throughout the rest of the document as “center projects” and the expenditures associated with these as “center project expenditures.”

Any dispute on whether a project should be submitted through a center will be resolved by the associate dean for research. Generally, center projects will be both submitted and administered by the college research center. In the event that a project is submitted by another unit (e.g., any center, department, or different college or institute), and the faculty member wishes to have it administered by a different unit, including a research center, a written justification must be provided to the associate dean for research.  This justification must include the rationale for the move, and how the receiving unit can better support the project or provide significant benefit. Both the submitting unit and the receiving unit must agree on the move and any specified terms.

Occasionally, when research projects administered in a college research center rely substantially on research resources that are based in the faculty member’s academic unit (such as laboratory equipment or specialized facilities), the research center may be expected to return some of the RIF back to the home department.  The amount of this return will be negotiated between the respective unit heads, with support from the associate dean for research as needed.  This negotiation and agreement must be completed and documented before the project submission. This documentation will be maintained and managed by the home unit.