Fac Council Changes PI Rules

Steven C. Wofsy, professor of atmospheric and environmental science, presented a proposal at yesterday’s Faculty Council meeting that would reform the way professors receive principle investigator rights.

The 18-member governing body of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences discussed the change that would transfer the authority to give these rights from the Committee on Research and Policy to the divisional deans.

Principle investigator rights allow professors to submit research proposals and then oversee the research.

“[University administrators] have a strong interest in making sure that those submitting these proposals are qualified to do so,” Wofsy said.

Because any grant proposal coming from a professor is submitted by the University, he said that it would be more appropriate for the actual faculty, rather than an “awkward venue” of administrators, to award the necessary PI rights.

The second part of the proposed change automatically extends approval for professors with PI rights at a particular division within Harvard to the entire University—for example, a faculty member with PI rights at Harvard Medical School would be able to submit a research proposal to the Harvard School of Public Health.

Under previous rules, the individual would have had to request permission for submission.

“One of the beautiful things about Harvard is that it’s focused on two things: research and teaching,” said atmospheric chemistry professor James G. Anderson in praise of the PI structure.

In addition, the council has been discussing the recent economic crisis and its effects on students, particularly in light of the current recruiting season.

But Dean of the College Evelynn M. Hammonds said she has not heard of students with specific family problems stemming from the downturn.

Finally, election results for the parliamentarian, who runs the proceedings for the faculty meetings, will be announced soon, according to FAS spokesman Robert P. Mitchell. Official word cannot be given until the chosen candidate has been informed of his or her appointment.

—Staff Writer Benjamin M. Jaffe can be reached at bjaffe@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff Writer Esther I. Yi can be reached at estheryi@fas.harvard.edu.