Strong teams are not defined only by the number of investigators involved. Competitive team-based proposals need clear roles, complementary expertise, shared goals, and a credible plan for coordination and decision-making.
Use this resource when:
- A proposal requires interdisciplinary or cross-school collaboration.
- The team is still forming.
- The PI is unsure which expertise is missing.
- External partners, community partners, industry partners, or institutional stakeholders may be needed.
- The project requires shared leadership or multiple interacting components.
Questions for team planning:
- What expertise is essential to the project?
- Which roles are scientific, operational, translational, educational, or advisory?
- Are all team members necessary to the proposal’s central argument?
- Are there gaps in expertise, infrastructure, stakeholder access, or methods?
- How will the team communicate and make decisions?
- Who is responsible for integration across aims, cores, or work packages?
- Are partner roles substantive, symbolic, required, or strategic?
Role clarity table:
| Role type | Proposal function |
|---|---|
| PI / Lead PI | Provides overall vision and scientific leadership |
| Co-PI / Senior personnel | Leads major intellectual, technical, or operational components |
| Core or thrust lead | Oversees a defined part of the proposed structure |
| Partner organization | Provides expertise, access, implementation setting, translation pathway, or stakeholder connection |
| Advisory board | Offers external guidance, review, and strategic perspective |
| Project manager / coordinator | Supports coordination, timeline tracking, communication, and integration |
YRD can help with:
- Identifying missing team functions
- Clarifying proposal roles
- Framing collaboration structures
- Supporting team formation conversations
- Connecting team structure to sponsor expectations