Funding Transition Updates: Please see Federal Transition Updates 2025 for the latest federal executive orders and research activities.
Setup of Cross-Disciplinary Awards
Before the Award Setup Analyst can begin award setup, the department personnel must provide documentation confirming that the cross-school structure was included in the original proposal. A detailed breakdown of the project is also required, including a list of the Principal Investigator (PI) and all Co-Investigators (Co-Is), along with each participant’s organization number and the short name to be used for their associated task and award. Separate budgets must be submitted for each task and award, and these should include all applicable indirect cost calculations to ensure accurate financial setup and reporting. Finally, each organization number provided must be a valid research organization number within the Grants Module.
The award setup process for cross-disciplinary awards follows the same general steps as the standard award setup process with a single Principal Investigator. However, several key differences apply:
Process
- Multiple Tasks and Awards Created:
- Instead of a single award, multiple tasks and award numbers are established.
- Each task and award is assigned its own organization number, budget, and Banner number.
- Distinct Award Managers:
- Each task and award is managed by its own PI and department.
- Shared Project Number:
- All tasks and awards are housed under a single shared project number for unified tracking.
- Personnel Access:
- Each task and award has designated personnel for PI Dashboard access.
- The lead PI and their department are granted access to all tasks and awards for comprehensive oversight.
- Department and RST Oversight:
- Each participating department and its corresponding RST manage their respective tasks and awards.
Resource
- GW Multiple Budget Guidance (GW Login required)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a Principal Investigator (PI)?
The Principal Investigator (PI) is the lead researcher responsible for the overall design, conduct, and management of a sponsored project. The PI’s name appears on the official award document issued by the sponsor, and they are accountable for ensuring the project complies with all sponsor and institutional requirements. Most awards designate a single PI, though some sponsors (e.g., the National Science Foundation) allow a multiple-PI structure when collaboration is central to the project.
- What is a Co-Investigator (Co-I)?
A Co-Investigator (Co-I) is a senior collaborator who shares scientific and programmatic leadership on a sponsored project but is not the official award recipient. Co-Is must be listed in the proposal and may be recognized by the sponsor as key contributors. Each Co-I typically manages a defined scope of work and a separate budget within the larger project. While Co-Is contribute significantly to the research, the PI retains overall responsibility for administrative and compliance matters.
- What system access is granted to each department or investigator?
Each participating department and Co-I has access to their assigned task and award within the project in the Enterprise Accounting System (EAS) and PI Dashboard for day-to-day management. The lead PI and the primary department are granted full access to all tasks and awards to oversee the project’s progress, spending, and reporting as a whole.