|
THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH
NEW INVESTIGATORS: A QUICK GUIDE TO STARTING YOUR RESEARCH AT
UCSF
Table of Contents
Finding, Obtaining and Managing Money -
Other Topics:
| Pre-award: How do I find and ask for funds?
| Post-award: How do I manage funding awards?
| How do I work with Industry?
| How do I minimize financial conflicts of interest?
| How do I maximize the value
of and protect the intellectual property I create? |
FINDING, OBTAINING AND MANAGING MONEY
What do I need to know about PI fiscal responsibility?
• What financial principles do I need to know?
• Whom do I contact?
• What auditing or monitoring is required?
• Relevant policies and procedures
What financial principles
do I need to know?
As the Principal Investigator, you are responsible
for the scientific and financial management of the research project.
Obtaining research funding is a highly competitive endeavor that not only
includes review of your proposed scientific
programs but also requires your adherence to the federal standards
for fiscal responsibility (Circular A-21). You are expected to
apply the following
principles
for
all types of funding that you may receive:
| • |
Allowability: Only allowable
expenses may be charged to your project as determined by the
terms and conditions of the award, and the University.
These can vary by funding agency but allowable expenses usually
include research supplies, research equipment and specialized
services such as antibody production. Expenses that
may not be allowed include administrative salaries, personal
phone charges, or entertainment costs. Your Department will
review these with you but it is ultimately your responsibility
to ensure that you comply with the terms of your award. |
|
| • |
Allocability: Only expenses
that specifically benefit a project can be
charged to that award. It is not appropriate to use funds from
one
project
to pay for items used in a different project. As the Principal
Investigator with spending authority, it is your responsibility
to make
sure that funds are spent only on costs necessary to complete
the project, and that these expenses were appropriately charged
to their designated project. |
|
|
| • |
Reasonableness: This principle
applies to what you pay for an item and is judged by what a
prudent person would pay for such an item. For example,
a prudent person might charge $3,000 for a laptop computer
loaded with standard software. However, charging $30,000 for
this $3,000 system would not be reasonable. |
|
|
•
|
Consistency: Charges should
be consistently applied across the university. For example,
radioisotope charges would not be charged as a direct cost by
one department and as an indirect cost in another department. |
Top of page
Whom do I contact?
Your primary contact for financial information and guidance
is your home department. Depending upon the size of the department, there
are various levels of support ranging from one financial person to a larger
staff that includes individuals that specialize in specific areas, such
as pre-award or post-award only. However, there is usually a grants administrator
(Research Services Administrator), financial manager or Management Services
Officer (MSO).
Top of page
What auditing or monitoring is required?
UCSF projects are subject to auditing. University
internal audits are conducted by the Department, Unit, School or
University Central Administration. The awarding agencies, state auditor
or federal authorities may also audit your
project.
Top of page
Relevant Policies and Procedures:
|
