Section 3: University Personnel
Anchor: #i1000797Research Team
The research team on each project is made up of:
- a Research Supervisor, and
- other researchers, either professional researchers or graduate students, as needed.
The research team performs the work described in the Project Agreement, and coordinates and communicates with the Project Director, as needed, on all significant project matters.
Anchor: #i1000822Research Supervisor (RS)
The Research Supervisor is the person assigned by a Texas state-supported university (or the lead university on a joint project) to supervise a project. The RS is an employee of the university under contract with TxDOT to conduct, or lead, the project, and operates under the direction and authority of that university. Each project has only one Research Supervisor.
The RS has primary responsibility to TxDOT for the conduct and completion of the entire project, including all deliverables, and can only be changed through written modification of the Project Agreement. The RS:
- develops the project proposal or modification, as requested by RTI,
- supervises or oversees all research personnel working on the project to ensure the project is conducted according to the Project Agreement, including the Work Plan,
- provides project status and findings as requested by the PD or RTI,
- reports significant problems or outstanding successes to the PD and RTI as soon as practical,
- documents project work and results, and provides required deliverables in a timely manner, and
- may assist in the implementation and demonstration of project results.
Principal Investigator (PI)
Principal Investigator is a term used by many universities to designate the lead researcher at that university on a specific project. Participating universities in a joint project may each designate a researcher as PI or co-PI, as the university’s professional standards dictate. TxDOT does not use the PI designation. Any member of the research team, other than the single Research Supervisor for the project, is referred to by TxDOT simply as a researcher.
Anchor: #i1000877University Liaison
Each Texas state-supported university wishing to participate in TxDOT’s research program must name a central point of contact to handle program communication and administration. This contact is the individual designated as the University Liaison.
The University Liaison:
- coordinates all research and
implementation program matters between the university and RTI, including
for example:
- RTI policies and procedures,
- requests for proposals,
- proposal submissions,
- Project Agreements and associated correspondence,
- requests for specific expenditure or other approvals, as outlined in RTI’s University Handbook, and
- deliverables.
- coordinates research and implementation program matters within their university.