principal investigator
7
7.0
- noun
- /ˈprɪnsəpəl ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪtər/
- Specialized
:
investigador principal
- Striebig and Giani are the principal investigators for the project, which runs through December 2002.
- principal investigator's research
- principal investigator of the project
- conducted by the principal investigator
The Viking Lander, you know that doctor Levin Gavin, what is his name, the principal investigator, the head guy for testing life.
- The Viking Lander, you know that doctor Levin Gavin, what is his name, the principal investigator, the head guy for testing life.
Examples
-
Laurance R. Doyle is a principal investigator at the SETI Institute in Mountain View, Calif.
Academic text (1996) -
Researchers met with the principal investigator to review all codes and resolve discrepancies.
Academic text (2011) -
Now, doing science as a principal investigator is a little bit like being the coach of a basketball team.
-
Both focus groups were facilitated by the principal investigator of the study.
Academic text (2015) -
All interviews were conducted by social workers trained by the principal investigator following a set protocol.
Academic text (2008) -
Since 1988, I have been one of the principal investigators involved with the Huygens project.
Academic text (2004) -
Collins, for example, is the principal investigator of the Applied Biodynamics Laboratory at Boston University.
Academic text (2008) -
Females who volunteered met with the principal investigator after their class and completed the inventories.
Academic text (2003) -
Data were collected by MSW students enrolled in the principal investigator's (PI) research practicum class.
Academic text (2000) -
The principal investigator presented the findings of the research project at the conference.
Synonyms
68
3.6
A person who studies facts and evidence to find the truth
7
7.9
A person who plans and runs a research project in a university or lab
1
3.6
A person who leads a team working on a particular task
How Senior
7
5.0
- Specialized
7
7.0
693
2.7
1
3.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'lead scientist responsible for a research project' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'principal' (primary/chief) with 'investigator' (researcher). This noun-noun composition follows regular English patterns and has clear equivalents in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Principal investigator comes from the words principal meaning 'main' and investigator meaning someone who studies or looks for answers. Imagine the main researcher who plans the work and leads the team. That is why it means 'the lead scientist in charge'.