Council of Principal Investigators
Reporting Line
The Council of Principal Investigators reports to the Vice Provost for Research or his or her designee.
Composition of Membership
The committee is composed of faculty members who are actively engaged in research and scholarly activity that relies on submission of proposals to external agencies or foundations and management of external awards through Baylor’s sponsored programs office (i.e., pre-award and post-award). School/College representation on the Council will generally be tailored to mirror overall sponsored program activity within the university and, thus, may change over time.
Members of the Council will be appointed by OVPR, with input from Faculty Senate leadership and deans. In practice, OVPR will identify a pool of qualified faculty candidates and consult with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and representative deans regarding rankings and preferences before appointments are finalized. One member of the Council will be appointed by the Faculty Senate, and this position will rotate annually.
Committee Charge Responsibilities
The Council of Principal Investigators is charged with vetting and advising the Vice Provost for Research (VPR) on pending and potential changes to research related policies and procedures. Some changes may be precipitated by regulatory requirements. Others may be contemplated to promote continuous improvement and/or long-term sustainability of Baylor’s research enterprise. The Council will also review the annual research support survey findings and other data related to PI experiences (e.g., feedback form entry trends) to make recommendations to the VPR.
Committee Members, 2026-2027
| Member | Department (Academic Unit)/Role | Roll-off Date |
|---|---|---|
| Aimone, Jason | Economics (Business) | Non-rotating |
| Burke, Mack | Educational Psychology (Education) | Non-rotating |
| Chan-Park, Christina | Research and Engagement (Libraries) | Non-rotating |
| Coffman, Elesha | History (A&S) | Non-rotating |
| Fuselier, Bridget | Law (Law) | Non-rotating |
| Koziol, Scott | Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECS) | Non-rotating |
| Sayes, Christie | Earth and Environmental Sciences (A&S) | Non-rotating |
| Singh, Abhendra | Mechanical Engineering (ECS) | Non-rotating |
| Smith, Cory | Health, Human Performance, and Recreation (HHS) | Non-rotating |
| Wright, Aaron | Biology (A&S) | Non-rotating |
| Zhang, Zhenrong | Physics (A&S) | Non-rotating |
| Schnitker, Sarah | Associate Vice Provost of Research, Interdisciplinary Initiatives | Ex officio |
| Chambliss, Kevin, Chair | Vice Provost for Research | Ex officio |
As of 2026/07/31