NIHR Associate PI Scheme

The Associate Principal Investigator Scheme aims to develop health and care professionals to become the Principal Investigators (PIs) of the future. 

What is the Associate Principal Investigator Scheme?

The Associate PI Scheme is a six month in-work training opportunity, providing practical experience for health and care professionals starting their research career.

People who would not normally have the opportunity to take part in clinical research in their day-to-day role have the chance to experience what it means to work on and deliver an NIHR portfolio trial under the mentorship of an enthusiastic Local Principal Investigator (PI). A Principal Investigator is an individual responsible for the conduct of a research study at a site.

Associate Principal Investigators receive formal recognition of engagement in NIHR Portfolio research studies through the certification of Associate PI status, endorsed by the NIHR and Royal Colleges.

Eligibility criteria

The scheme is open to health and care professionals who don't primarily work in research but want to gain research experience on a NIHR Portfolio research study.

This includes, but is not limited to: doctors, nurses, social care professionals, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.

You are not eligible to apply if you are a student, research nurse, or work in a fully-funded research role. See our Eligibility FAQs for further details.

You will also need to:

• commit to work on the study at the same site for 6 months

• get approval from the local Principal Investigator

We keep an up to date list of local studies that are open to the associate PI scheme 

Associate PI Studies List (Yorkshire and Humber) - Updated September 2024 - Google Sheets 

If you would like to apply to the associate investigator scheme, you can find more information on how to apply here: Apply to be an Associate Principal Investigator | NIHR