Signature Authority

A Principal Investigator (PI), Department Chair, Dean, or other University of Utah employee should never sign a sponsored projects proposal, contract or grant without first consulting OSP.

Before an agreement can be enforced, it must be signed by a person with specific statutory authority. For research grants and contracts, this authority has been delegated to the Director of OSP.

Any PI or other university employee who contemplates signing a research proposal or agreement on behalf of the University without actual authority to do so assumes extensive personal legal liability.

Read more in the Handbook for Research & Sponsored Activities.