Roles & Eligibility for Research Computing
Access to Research Computing resources at UVA is project-based. Your role and your relationship to a research project will determine what options are available to you. This page explains who can initiate requests, how collaborators gain access, and what to do next based on your role.
Principal Investigators (PIs) and PI-eligible staff
What this means for you
- You can initiate Research Computing projects
- You can request computing and storage resources
- You are responsible for:
- Selecting the appropriate data environment based on data sensitivity
- Managing access for your research team
- Ensuring required training and agreements are completed
- Ensuring required institutional approvals (e.g., IRB, regulatory review) are in place for highly sensitive data
Who is PI-eligible?
| PI Eligible | Possible PI Eligible | Not PI Eligible |
|---|---|---|
| Faculty | ||
| Research Staff (may be PI-eligible after application) | ||
| Postdocs (rarely PI-eligible and typically use their advisor's project) | ||
| Students |
- What are my responsibilities as a PI?
- Determine whether your project uses standard or highly sensitive data
- Initiate requests for computing and storage resources
- Grant collaborators access to your project resources
- Maintain appropriate access over the life of the project
Students, postdocs, and research staff (non-PI)
What this means for you
- You do not initiate requests for Research Computing resources
- Access is provided through:
- A faculty-led course, or
- A PI-led research project
- The PI determines:
- Which security level of computing environment is used
- Which collaborators are granted access
How you gain access
- Identify the faculty PI leading your research project or teaching the course
- Ask the PI to create or grant you access to their project
- Complete all required training and agreements for the project, if applicable
- What should I ask my PI?
- Which data environment does this project use?
- Have Research Computing resources already been requested?
- Can you grant me access to the project?
- Are there required trainings or agreements I need to complete?
- Do I need to request an account?
No. Your instructor or PI will initiate access.
- When will I get access?
After you are added to the project and any required steps are completed. Accounts are created automatically, populating the system within up to 2 hours.
If you’re unsure about:
- Your role or eligibility
- Whether you should initiate a request or be added to a project
- Which PI is responsible for your access
We can help you determine the correct next step. Contact Research Computing for guidance.