The NIH makes an effort to recruit new PIs to science. Do new investigators have an advantage or disadvantage in multiple PI applications?
Multiple PD/PI applications may include senior and new investigators. However, the application will only be considered a “New Investigator” application when all of the PD/PIs meet the NIH definition of “new investigator.” New investigator incentives (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/resources.htm) are applied to applications rather than individual PD/PIs. Consistent with the policy that all PIs on a multiple PI grant will have all the authorities and responsibilities assumed by PIs on single PI grants, an individual who serves as a PI on an R01, for example, awarded as a multiple PI grant will no longer be classified as a new investigator on subsequent applications. Thus, serving as a PD/PI on a multiple PD/PI grant is equivalent to serving as a PD/PI on a single PD/PI grant.
