The NIH Early Stage Investigator (ESI) designation is given to researchers who have not served as a PI on an R01 or equivalent and who are 10 years or less from their terminal degree (e.g., PhD) or last clinical training/fellowship. ESI status confers a funding advantage, sometimes a significant one. Protecting that status is an important part of NIH grantsmanship.
We recently received this question: “Can I name a senior researcher as a co-Investigator on my R01 without affecting my ESI status?“
The answer to that question is yes, your ESI funding advantage is preserved, if the senior researcher is truly a co-Investigator (co-I) and not a principal investigator (PI).
It’s important to understand NIH’s terms for principal investigators (PI) and co-investigators (co-I). A PI is the main person who’s running the project. They are ultimately responsible for the scientific, administrative, and fiscal management of the project. If there is more than one PI, NIH designates it as a multi-PI plan. Co-Is are not PIs. They are team members who are key personnel who have a significant contribution to the project.
If that senior researcher is truly a co-investigator and not a PI on the project, ESI status is preserved. In the case of a multi-PI plan where that senior person is listed as a PI alongside you, the application will not receive the ESI funding advantage unless both PIs have ESI status. Note that if that senior person has a major role on the project and a significant percent effort, reviewers will notice if their designation as a co-I doesn’t match their actual contribution. Don’t structure the application to game the designation. Their role and effort should genuinely reflect co-I status.
