Linked Fund Numbers on Collaborative Research Awards

The Office of Research & Innovation and the Office of the Comptroller have been working on improving transparency in managing collaborative research awards in the RCM budget environment. Beginning with proposals submitted on or after January 1, 2024, a main fund number for a PI along with linked fund numbers for Co-PIs and Co-Is will be established on awarded projects.

Information Session Recording

The Office of Research & Innovation and the Office of the Comptroller hosted an information session on December 19, 2023 in preparation of establishing linked fund numbers on collaborative research projects.

Resources

FAQs

It is preferred that all PIs use the OSP collaborative research budget template for all collaborative research proposals. If a PI chooses to use a different template, it must include all of the information that is requested on the OSP template with separate tabs for each Co-PI and Co-I. At time of award, if the template does not meet OSP’s requirements, it will be requested to complete the OSP collaborative research budget template in order for the fund numbers to be set up.

No. The proposed budget may be changed at time of award if it does not change the scope of the awarded work, is being corrected to meet the aims of the awarded work, or to make adjustments due to a different award amount.​​

Yes, a Co-PI/Co-I may make changes to their linked fund number as long as they have discussed the proposed changes with the PI and the PI approves.​

If a PI decides to return more IDCs to others listed on the project, this can be completed through a journal entry after the PI has discussed with his/her department.​

Linked fund numbers will be restricted to set up only for other Co-PIs or Co-Is listed on the project

Other senior key personnel will be listed on either the main fund number or a linked fund number

If the PI wants to provide IDC returns to a senior key personnel without a linked fund number, a journal entry will need to be created after the PI has discussed this request with his/her department

If a sponsor limits the number of faculty who can be listed as a Co-PI or Co-I, an exception can be made. Contact your Grants Administrator to discuss the limitation and need to establish linked fund numbers for senior key personnel on the specific project.

For faculty with joint appointments, linked fund numbers can be established for each department they are associated with. If they are the Contact PI, they will be able to see all of the linked fund numbers associated with the project. ​​
Yes, a collaborative research budget is required for all projects that have Co-PIs and Co-Is listed on the project. Having the linked fund numbers will allow each faculty member to receive credit for their portion of the project.​​
You will need to divide the student’s time between the advisors based on the amount of effort that they will be devoting to advising the student. For example, if two advisors are equally mentoring the student, each faculty advisor will put 50% of the student’s effort onto their portion of the budget template. ​​
Currently, Research Accounting Services (RAS) is working with IT to review and correct issues with effort reporting. RAS has the ability to assign the appropriate approver to the main fund number and linked fund number(s).
The Contact PI and their Department Administrator will have access to view the main fund number and any associated linked fund numbers in Web Finance. A Co-PI or Co-I and their Department Administrator will be able to view their linked fund number only.​​
The PI, or their Department Administrator, will need to contact the Co-PI or Co-I and their Department Administrator to complete a labor redistribution for any errors previously charged to a project and an EPAF to correct any future salary charges.  ​​

Questions 

Any questions about the new process can be directed to Sarah Saxton, Assistant Vice Provost, Sponsored Programs, at sarah.m.saxton@drexel.edu and Evelyn Balabis, Executive Director, Research Accounting Services, at eb545@drexel.edu.

Sarah Saxton

Assistant Vice Provost, Sponsored Programs
Sponsored Programs