To become a principal investigator, one needs a strong educational background, ideally with a postgraduate degree, and a portfolio of research experience. Specialized courses, certification, and administrative and writing skills are also important. Principal investigators can work in academia or contract research organizations, but the results of their research belong to the sponsor funding it. They are responsible for initiating, progressing, and completing the research, applying for funding and publication of results, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
If you want to become a principal investigator, you should start with a strong educational background, usually in a scientific or medical field. Most principal investigators hold doctoral degrees, although some hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree with professional experience equivalent to a higher degree. In addition to your degree, you should build a portfolio of research experience during your college career, ideally with results published in an industry-related journal.
In terms of education, a postgraduate degree is usually required for anyone wishing to become a principal investigator. Depending on the field of study you want to be involved in, make sure you include a sufficient amount of specialized courses in that field. A good college advisor can help you determine which courses are best suited to your career path, be it academic or clinical research. In many cases, you may want to obtain certification to gain international credibility in a specialized field such as pathology or toxicology.
If you are interested in becoming an academic researcher, you must have a strong concentration in your field of expertise. Specific research areas can include a variety of subjects, from statistical analysis to environmental law. Consider taking research administration courses and grant writing as well. Administrative and writing skills will help round out your skill set and improve your ability to become a principal investigator.
In addition to academia, many principal investigators are employed in contract research organizations (CRO). The nature of this research is commonly associated with safety risk assessment, drug development or analytical chemistry. Pharmaceutical and clinical research creates a demand for those wishing to become a principal investigator. Principal investigators employed by a CRO generally earn more money than those in academia.
A Principal Investigator’s search results typically do not belong to the Investigator. Instead, the results belong to the sponsor funding the research. A sponsor can be a nonprofit agency, academic institution, or research organization. Finally, the research is usually published in an industry-related journal or journal, along with the name of the principal investigator and any other contributors. In many cases, this is the only recognition a principal investigator receives for study results.
In general, a principal investigator is like a project manager. To become a Principal Investigator for a given project, you are solely responsible for the initiation, progress, and completion of the research. An academic researcher who becomes a principal investigator will be applying for funding and publication of results. As a clinical researcher, the principal investigator is responsible for communicating with the client and completing the research. In cases where research is funded by the government or requires approval from a government agency, the designated principal investigator must ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
