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Principal Investigator Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

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Principal Investigator information

See Indiana salary details

$18.6K

$135.8K

$247.9K

How much do principal investigator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal investigator in Indiana is $135,758.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,800.00 and $190,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a principal investigator?

A principal investigator, or PI, is the primary representative of an organization that requests a grant. As a principal investigator, you are responsible for the preparation and completion of the research or project being funded by the grant. Your primary goal is to provide sufficient justification for the proposal or grant request to the funding entities. Other job duties include developing research strategies to gather data, analyzing and writing up a summary of the results of the research, and ensuring the project complies with all applicable laws and regulations. A PI may be required to present the results of the study to faculty, peers, and grant approvers.

What is a principal investigator?

A Principal Investigator (PI) is the lead researcher responsible for the design, conduct, and management of a research project, typically within an academic or scientific setting. The PI oversees all aspects of the project, including securing funding, ensuring compliance with regulations, supervising research staff, and reporting results. They are ultimately accountable for the integrity and progress of the research, as well as the safety of any human or animal subjects involved. The PI is usually a senior scientist or faculty member with expertise in the project's subject area.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal investigator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Principal Investigator, you need advanced expertise in a scientific discipline, a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, or equivalent), and a proven research track record. Familiarity with grant management systems, laboratory management tools, and regulatory compliance certifications (like Good Clinical Practice) is typically required. Strong leadership, project management, and effective communication skills set outstanding Principal Investigators apart. These competencies are vital for designing innovative research, securing funding, leading teams, and ensuring ethical, high-impact study outcomes.

What are some common challenges principal investigators face when managing research teams?

Principal Investigators often encounter challenges related to balancing administrative responsibilities with hands-on research and mentorship. Managing a diverse team with varying expertise, ensuring clear communication, and securing consistent funding can be demanding. PIs are also responsible for fostering collaboration, resolving conflicts, and maintaining compliance with institutional and funding agency regulations. Successfully navigating these challenges requires strong leadership, organizational skills, and adaptability.

What is the difference between Principal Investigator vs Research Scientist?

AspectPrincipal InvestigatorResearch Scientist
Required credentialsAdvanced degrees (PhD or MD), research experienceMaster's or PhD, specialized research skills
Work environmentLeads research projects, manages teams, secures fundingConducts experiments, analyzes data, supports research projects
Employer and industry usageUniversities, research institutes, government agenciesUniversities, industry R&D labs, biotech companies

The main difference between a Principal Investigator and a Research Scientist lies in their roles and responsibilities. The Principal Investigator typically leads research projects, manages teams, and secures funding, while the Research Scientist focuses on conducting experiments and supporting research activities. Both roles require advanced research credentials, but the PI holds a leadership position overseeing the entire project.

More about Principal Investigator jobs

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Principal Investigator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Investigator job openings in Indiana as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 93% In-person, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $135,758 per year, or $65.3 per hour.

Principal Physics Consultant - AI Training

micro1 AI

Fishers, IN • Remote

$80 - $160/hr

Part-time

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

Role Title: Physics Expert (Professor / Principal Investigator)


Role Type: Contractor.


Location: Remote


micro1 is engaging Physics Experts—established Professors or Principal Investigators—to provide high-level domain guidance as part of an impactful project for a customer. In this role, you'll apply your expertise to help train next-generation AI systems. Your work will shape how models learn, reason, and perform through high-quality, real-world input. No prior experience in AI is required — your domain knowledge is what matters.


Scope of Work

  1. Adjudicate and render expert judgment on contested or competing physics arguments, solutions, or interpretations within your subfield.
  2. Compare alternative approaches to the same problem, detailing which is superior, under what assumptions, and in which regimes.
  3. Identify and articulate meta-level criteria for evaluating the robustness and validity of competing physics work, such as key assumptions and breaking points of approximations.
  4. Exercise calibrated confidence by providing authoritative assessments while transparently acknowledging genuine uncertainty or open questions in the field.
  5. Draft defensible written evaluations suitable for review by fellow senior physicists, ensuring clarity and rigor.
  6. Leverage technical tools such as LaTeX, SymPy, Python, and Jupyter to verify or contrast technical claims as needed.
  7. Clearly communicate when a question is unresolved within the field and delineate the pertinent considerations.


Preferred Qualifications

  1. PhD in physics with demonstrated expertise and scholarly impact in your specified subfield.
  2. Current or former Associate Professor, Full Professor, Chair Professor, or Principal Investigator/Group Leader with a track record of independent research leadership.
  3. Ongoing research activity in one or more of these areas: High Energy Physics, Mathematical Physics, Biophysics, Statistical Physics, Condensed Matter, AMO/Quantum Optics, Gravitation, Cosmology, Astrophysics, Quantum Information, or Optical Properties of Materials.
  4. 3–5 recent representative publications in your target subfield, with arXiv or DOI references.
  5. Prior experience supervising PhD students or postdocs, or equivalent leadership in industry research settings.
  6. Proficiency with LaTeX, SymPy, Python, and Jupyter (please indicate any gaps in experience with these tools).
  7. Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to articulate nuanced and well-reasoned judgments.

Apply