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Changes to PI

Scope: This policy applies to a Principal Investigator (PI) or co-Investigator (co-PI) named on a Grant, as per the Letter of Offer. For guidance on changes to team members in the context of the Research Centres, the Rinn Centres or the ARC Hubs please see the Research Ireland website. 

The policy: As per Research Ireland’s Grant General Terms and Conditions, Research Ireland must be promptly notified in writing and in any event within thirty days, if there is any proposed change to the status of a PI or co-PI as per the Letter of Offer. A change in status may include, but not be limited to, a change of PI or co-PI’s affiliation with the Research Body, as referred to in the Letter of Offer, a change in supervisor or mentor (in the case of an individual-led grant)1 or any other change that may have a material effect including those related to Grant stewardship and/or progress relating to the research programme. Please refer to Research Ireland’s Grant General Terms and Conditions for further details relating to changes in PI status. Any proposed change to the status of a PI or co-PI must be approved by Research Ireland in advance of it taking effect.2 In the unfortunate event of the death or extended illness of a PI or co-PI, the Research Body should endeavour to inform Research Ireland as early as possible.3 

Who should notify Research Ireland: It is the responsibility of the PI or co-PI (Grant recipients named on the Letter of Offer) and Research Body (as per the Letter of Offer) to inform Research Ireland of changes as noted in the Policy, as described above. 

 

The process: This request will typically be submitted by email to the relevant Programme Manager within Research Ireland and/or programmatic email address.  

For changes relating to the Research Body the request will, at a minimum, contain the following information:  

  1. The background to the request detailing the proposed change in the status of the PI or co-PI.  
  2. A paragraph outlining how the proposed change will impact the operations and research activities supported by the Grant. This paragraph should detail steps being undertaken to manage and/or mitigate any risks identified that the proposed change might have on the Grant stewardship and/or progress relating to the research programme. 
  3. Letter of support from the Research Body(ies).4,5 

Changes to the PI, Co-PI, supervisor or mentor should in addition to the above, include the following: 

  1. The Curriculum Vitae of the proposed replacement PI, Co-PI, supervisor or mentor, where relevant, and a statement confirming that the replacement meets the minimum eligibility criteria detailed in the Programme Call under which the Grant was awarded. 
  2. A description of the role and responsibilities of the proposed replacement PI, Co-PI, supervisor or mentor, where changes are being proposed.  
  3. A statement from the proposed replacement PI, Co-PI, supervisor or mentor that they are prepared to act as PI, co‐PI, supervisor or mentor (as appropriate), on the Grant, and will assume the responsibilities for the Grant that are attached to that role, as well as a statement of understanding and compliance with Research Ireland’s Grant General Terms and Conditions. 

What happens next: Once the required documentation (providing sufficient detail) has been submitted to Research Ireland, the relevant Research Ireland personnel will review the documentation provided. Clarification will be sought from the Grant holder(s)/Research Body where required. Research Ireland will make every effort to reach a decision in a timely manner. As detailed above, any proposed change to the status of a PI, co-PI, supervisor or mentor must be approved by Research Ireland in advance of it taking effect. 

Additional information: For changes due to sabbatical leave, please consider specific requirements outlined in Research Ireland’s Sabbatical Policy. If there are any queries relating to the interpretation of this policy, please contact researchpolicy@researchireland.ie and you will receive a response within 5 working days.

Scope: This policy applies to all Research Ireland Grant holders1 named on a Grant, as per the Letter of Offer.  

The policy: Sabbatical leave is an arrangement that will have been agreed between an employee and their respective employer concerning a period of extended leave from work. Where an individual is named on an individual-led or multiple investigator-led Grant, as per the Letter of Offer, i.e., they are a Research Ireland Grant holder, there are strict conditions attached to managing a Grant when taking sabbatical leave. The Grant holder is required to notify Research Ireland in advance of the proposed period of leave and provide a detailed management plan describing how the Research Ireland Grant will be managed during the leave period. 

Who should notify Research Ireland: In the first instance, the Research Body must ensure that it, or the Grant holder (as per the Letter of Offer) on its behalf, notifies Research Ireland in writing in respect of the proposed Sabbatical, promptly and, in any event, within thirty days of formal approval having been granted to take such leave. Failure to comply with this policy in full, may result in the suspension and possible termination of the Grant.  

The process: This sabbatical management plan will typically be submitted by email to the relevant Programme Manager within Research Ireland and/or Programme Call email address. The proposed sabbatical management plan2 must include details on each of the following or explain why these details are not required: 

  1. Timelines of the proposed sabbatical. 
  2. The individual who will be appointed to manage the Grant ‘on the ground’ in the absence of the Grant holder (as per the Letter of Offer) who is taking the sabbatical leave3. 
  3. How postgraduate students will continue to be effectively mentored and other team members managed during the period of leave. 
  4. A revised workplan for the research programme for the remainder of the Grant (including staffing arrangements, budgets, etc.), 4 from the date the sabbatical leave is taken. 
  5. A statement of understanding and compliance with Research Ireland’s Grant General Terms and Conditions from the individual who will be appointed to manage the Grant.  
  6. Any other relevant information to support the request. 

What happens next: Once the required documentation providing sufficient detail has been submitted, the relevant Research Ireland personnel will review the Sabbatical Management Plan provided.  Clarification will be sought from the Grant holder(s)/Research Body where required. Research Ireland will make every effort to reach a decision in a timely manner. As detailed above, any proposed change to the status of a PI or co-PI must be approved by Research Ireland in advance of it taking effect. 

Additional information: This policy does not relate to maternity, paternity or adoptive leave. Details pertaining to these leave types are outlined in a separate policy Research Ireland’s Maternity, Paternity, and Adoptive Leave Policy. For further clarity on notification requirements, please refer to Research Ireland’s Grant General Terms and Conditions. If there are any queries relating to the interpretation of this policy, please contact researchpolicy@researchireland.ie and you will receive a response within 5 working days.