Is it an independent project if you are the PI?

[almostdw]

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[eteshoe]

So you were the lead investigator on an independent project that you're working on with support from your faculty mentor?

 

[almostdw]

So you were the lead investigator on an independent project that you're working on with support from your faculty mentor?

Yes- exactly!

 

[kraskadva]

It's independent research/ an independent project.
And you're not the PI. That would be your professor whose name is on the door of the lab and is funding your work.
(Think about author order on a journal article - the first name is the one who ran the project and did the most work, the last name is the PI whose lab the work was done in. Everybody in the middle is somewhere in between the poles of hours worked and lab seniority).

 

[almostdw]

It's independent research/ an independent project.
And you're not the PI. That would be your professor whose name is on the door of the lab and is funding your work.
(Think about author order on a journal article - the first name is the one who ran the project and did the most work, the last name is the PI whose lab the work was done in. Everybody in the middle is somewhere in between the poles of hours worked and lab seniority).

In this case, I proposed the project and am leading the research, so I have actually completed the IRB form as the PI and just sent the final draft to my faculty supervisor for suggestions ("undergraduate" is actually an option which I was also surprised about). The faculty member who is supervising me does not do research and is the "faculty mentor", which is required if a student is the PI. This research is not done in a lab, and does not require funding- it's really not as complicated as the research you are probably thinking of, which is why I am able to be the PI for this project.

 

[greenturtle22]

I did this! Called it an independent research project in my AMCAS. Adcoms had no issue with this.

 

[Verity]

I think what the above posters are getting at is that in your situation, the vast, VAST majority of the research community would consider you an undergraduate working under a PI. You cannot (well, beyond unlikely), as an undergraduate, come up with the materials and reputation necessary to bring your research idea to publication or to even make it presentation-worthy alone. That's why you have a PI to guide, support, and back you. The PI title does not necessarily mean they came up with the project. Maybe the PI did, or maybe the first author came up with their own novel idea, pitched it to a PI in a related field, and was able to run with it.

I worked under a postdoc during a summer internship who had been in the same lab for over five years. For multiple years, she had been working on her own brain-child of a project with the support of her PI. She came up with the idea, selected the experiments/assays, and performed them. I had originally credited my poster as such: "Verity Me, Post Doc, Random Labmember, Principal Investigator". Oddly, the PI of our lab changed the order to "Verity Me, Random Labmember, Principal Investigator, Post Doc." I gotta tell you, my mentor was absolutely shocked (which never happens to her), and didn't know how to react. She kinda got a little bit teary. She wants to start her own lab, and I think that was the PI's subtle way of letting her know that he thinks she's ready. The title of PI is NOT just thrown at the person who came up with the project. It carries a different weight.

Just my thoughts... you might get some funny looks if you call yourself a PI. Who knows, though, my understanding of such things could be off and I acknowledge this may be the case.

 

[kraskadva]

In this case, I proposed the project and am leading the research, so I have actually completed the IRB form as the PI and just sent the final draft to my faculty supervisor for suggestions ("undergraduate" is actually an option which I was also surprised about). The faculty member who is supervising me does not do research and is the "faculty mentor", which is required if a student is the PI. This research is not done in a lab, and does not require funding- it's really not as complicated as the research you are probably thinking of, which is why I am able to be the PI for this project.

That's all fine, and I'm not saying you're not the lead researcher on this project, as you clearly are, or demeaning your involvement, because it's a great thing to develop and run your own research as an undergrad.
What I am saying is that PI does not translate into "the one doing the most work on the project". It's a specific term in the research hierarchy to denote the person under whom all the researchers work, whether you're in a lab doing bench work or surveying people in the street and crunching data. As an undergraduate, you must have a faculty supervisor who signs off on everything you do, even if that person puts in zero hours towards your research. And that person is the PI, not you, because that's the hierarchy.
You can ignore me if you want and continue calling yourself that, just know that someone reading your app down the line will scoff at your lack of understanding of academia and then, perhaps, judge you a little more harshly.

As both an undergrad and a masters student I've designed and run my own projects, and trained other students under me to continue those projects. And I absolutely listed them as "independent research". But I would never call myself the PI, even though my PIs put in no work at all towards those projects, just provided money, space, and signatures.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

That's all fine, and I'm not saying you're not the lead researcher on this project, as you clearly are, or demeaning your involvement, because it's a great thing to develop and run your own research as an undergrad.
What I am saying is that PI does not translate into "the one doing the most work on the project". It's a specific term in the research hierarchy to denote the person under whom all the researchers work, whether you're in a lab doing bench work or surveying people in the street and crunching data. As an undergraduate, you must have a faculty supervisor who signs off on everything you do, even if that person puts in zero hours towards your research. And that person is the PI, not you, because that's the hierarchy.
You can ignore me if you want and continue calling yourself that, just know that someone reading your app down the line will scoff at your lack of understanding of academia and then, perhaps, judge you a little more harshly.

As both an undergrad and a masters student I've designed and run my own projects, and trained other students under me to continue those projects. And I absolutely listed them as "independent research". But I would never call myself the PI, even though my PIs put in no work at all towards those projects, just provided money, space, and signatures.

What if you aren't working under anyone or in anyone's lab? I've done a couple projects completely independently. One of them resulted in a poster at a national conference, and I'm finishing up the paper to submit for the latest one. I also have a pub from a project I did while working under no one, but it's not in the basic sciences, so I don't think the same terms apply.

 

[kraskadva]

What if you aren't working under anyone or in anyone's lab? I've done a couple projects completely independently. One of them resulted in a poster at a national conference, and I'm finishing up the paper to submit for the latest one. I also have a pub from a project I did while working under no one, but it's not in the basic sciences, so I don't think the same terms apply.

As a nontrad, you might have one of those really rare, unusual situations. But if you were/are a part of academia at the time of research and anyone signed off on your project at all, then you're not the PI. And yes, the terminology changes outside of the sciences.
Regardless though, in your case you have pub(s), which will stand on its/their own merit. You don't need to call yourself the PI (and personally I would avoid doing so anyway, to save explanations & disbelief), just put the DOI info for your pubs in the app and you're all set.

 

[kraskadva]

double post

 

[LizzyM]

I've been called out in the past for correcting typos and spelling errors but I have to remind people that the PI is the Principal Investigator, a "pal" just like the Principal in school, not someone investigating scientific principles, as logical as that might seem.

My school doesn't allow a student of any kind to be the PI for IRB, etc but I can see where some survey research and the like could be proposed and executed by a post-bac student, grad student, or even an upperlevel undergrad. The resources required are minimal; it is much different than bench research.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

As a nontrad, you might have one of those really rare, unusual situations. But if you were/are a part of academia at the time of research and anyone signed off on your project at all, then you're not the PI. And yes, the terminology changes outside of the sciences.
Regardless though, in your case you have pub(s), which will stand on its/their own merit. You don't need to call yourself the PI (and personally I would avoid doing so anyway, to save explanations & disbelief), just put the DOI info for your pubs in the app and you're all set.

Yeah, I'm a non-trad. I initiated and carried out a clinical project that led to the poster. I was not in academia at the time. I also have been working on a project that I just wrote a paper on and had no oversight or anyone sign me off (it is a mathematical biology project--no bench work involved).

I'm not planning on saying I was a PI. I just want to describe it correctly (like OP). I was planning on listing them as independent projects and listing the pubs/poster. Thanks.

 

[JustAPhD]

I think what the above posters are getting at is that in your situation, the vast, VAST majority of the research community would consider you an undergraduate working under a PI. You cannot (well, beyond unlikely), as an undergraduate, come up with the materials and reputation necessary to bring your research idea to publication or to even make it presentation-worthy alone. That's why you have a PI to guide, support, and back you. The PI title does not necessarily mean they came up with the project. Maybe the PI did, or maybe the first author came up with their own novel idea, pitched it to a PI in a related field, and was able to run with it.

I worked under a postdoc during a summer internship who had been in the same lab for over five years. For multiple years, she had been working on her own brain-child of a project with the support of her PI. She came up with the idea, selected the experiments/assays, and performed them. I had originally credited my poster as such: "Verity Me, Post Doc, Random Labmember, Principal Investigator". Oddly, the PI of our lab changed the order to "Verity Me, Random Labmember, Principal Investigator, Post Doc." I gotta tell you, my mentor was absolutely shocked (which never happens to her), and didn't know how to react. She kinda got a little bit teary. She wants to start her own lab, and I think that was the PI's subtle way of letting her know that he thinks she's ready. The title of PI is NOT just thrown at the person who came up with the project. It carries a different weight.

Just my thoughts... you might get some funny looks if you call yourself a PI. Who knows, though, my understanding of such things could be off and I acknowledge this may be the case.

Agreed with the fellow Brainbow avatar user.

 

[aldol16]

What if you aren't working under anyone or in anyone's lab? I've done a couple projects completely independently. One of them resulted in a poster at a national conference, and I'm finishing up the paper to submit for the latest one. I also have a pub from a project I did while working under no one, but it's not in the basic sciences, so I don't think the same terms apply.

Yeah, I'm a non-trad. I initiated and carried out a clinical project that led to the poster. I was not in academia at the time. I also have been working on a project that I just wrote a paper on and had no oversight or anyone sign me off (it is a mathematical biology project--no bench work involved).

Where did the funding for the research come from? Whose name is on the grant? If there is no funding/money involved or if you self-funded the entire project, then you are truly the PI, although I would not use that specific terminology. PIs are generally the figureheads who get the grants, provide the lab space, give you the dataset, etc. If you set up the project through the IRB yourself with no oversight and the funding is in your name and you are the sole author on the project, then you're functioning as a PI.

For computational biology projects, you generally pay for core computing time and to do that, you have to have a funding account. That account normally is associated with some grant that some faculty member has.

 

[aldol16]

OP, do you have a faculty mentor? Where is the funding coming from? Imagine this project going to publication. Would there be any other name on it except your own?

Many high-achieving undergrads propose their own projects and carry them out under the supervision of a faculty member, who is directly responsible for them. The PI is still the faculty member. You would just be the first author. Most tenured PIs don't actually spend time in lab. In some projects, they don't even come up with the original design. But they get to put their name on it because they "advise" you and fund the project with their grant money.

 

[T800'sThumb]

Is anyone but you signing that IRB proposal? At many institutions, this is an granted status, and it's explicitly stated that students shall not be PI's.

When I was in grad school, the understanding was that the Principal Investigator is called that because he's the leader of a group of investigators (i.e. his lab) and is ultimately responsible for proposing, funding and governing laws and regulations. Could be a conversation starter tho, that's for sure.

 

[almostdw]

Perhaps I should explain my situation a bit first. The research I am doing is NOT bench work and I don't even think it is clinical work either. It is definitely survey research, as LizzyM mentioned. In the IRB application, I submitted it under social/behavioral research. I fully understand that most research requires an experienced PI who runs a lab, and I am doing basic research within that usual setting as well.

I initially listed my faculty supervisor as the PI and even told him that the PI needs to be a faculty member. After getting some emails about updates/required edits following an earlier form submission, he asked me to call the IRB office and see if an exception can be made because he was too busy (he does not do research, so this process was confusing for both of us) and it would be faster if I could directly receive and respond to those. I called, and they told me that no exception is necessary- undergraduates can be listed as the PI of a study, and that I should submit the new project form with myself as the PI. In the assurance form I submitted, it states "Faculty Supervisor (if PI is a student)... I will meet with the student investigator on a regular basis and monitor study progress..." before the faculty supervisor signature. So you were all right about needing a faculty mentor/supervisor, but in this situation, it seems that the faculty supervisor and PI are not one and the same as we are used to.

I am not trying to list and call myself the PI because I think it sounds good. In fact, it would be easier if I could list my faculty mentor as the PI instead because- as this thread indicates- many people will not believe me and it may cause misunderstandings. I just want to know how I should explain this on my application, and what I should be calling my faculty mentor (who will likely write a letter for me). I am completely fine with just saying that I was a student researcher and he was the PI, but that is not what we put on the IRB forms.

Here's some info from University of Pittsburg showing that students can indeed be listed as PIs for a project: http://www.irb.pitt.edu/content/cha...onsibilities-investigators-and-research-staff

 

[almostdw]

I did this! Called it an independent research project in my AMCAS. Adcoms had no issue with this.

Did you have a faculty mentor? And submit the IRB approval, etc.? If you could share a bit more about your experience, I'd greatly appreciate that! 🙂

 

[almostdw]

What if you aren't working under anyone or in anyone's lab? I've done a couple projects completely independently. One of them resulted in a poster at a national conference, and I'm finishing up the paper to submit for the latest one. I also have a pub from a project I did while working under no one, but it's not in the basic sciences, so I don't think the same terms apply.

This sounds very similar to my project; I am not working in a lab of any sort, and my faculty mentor is not providing funding or resources. If you don't mind, could you share how you discussed this in your application? Congrats, by the way!

 

[greenturtle22]

Did you have a faculty mentor? And submit the IRB approval, etc.? If you could share a bit more about your experience, I'd greatly appreciate that! 🙂

Yes! Had a faculty mentor and submitted an IRB request (and got it approved). Basically, I took an existing data set from my lab (that no one had done much work with), came up with my own research question/research design related to this data set, and implemented my project with only basic guidance from my faculty mentor. My university's IRB actually insisted I call myself the PI and that my faculty mentor was NOT the PI (since I designed and largely implemented the project on my own). I'd imagine if your project was actually done in someone's lab and not secondary data analysis that it might be more difficult to identify yourself as the PI.

 

[almostdw]

I've been called out in the past for correcting typos and spelling errors but I have to remind people that the PI is the Principal Investigator, a "pal" just like the Principal in school, not someone investigating scientific principles, as logical as that might seem.

My school doesn't allow a student of any kind to be the PI for IRB, etc but I can see where some survey research and the like could be proposed and executed by a post-bac student, grad student, or even an upperlevel undergrad. The resources required are minimal; it is much different than bench research.

Would you recommend just saying that I am a student researcher doing research with a faculty supervisor then? I am doing survey research that requires zero funding- I just need to contact the subjects, obtain responses, and then analyze the results.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

This sounds very similar to my project; I am not working in a lab of any sort, and my faculty mentor is not providing funding or resources. If you don't mind, could you share how you discussed this in your application? Congrats, by the way!

I haven't applied yet. I was just planning on listing the pubs with the DOI info and then briefly discussing the research experience, stating that I was a postbacc doing an independent project.

 

[almostdw]

OP, do you have a faculty mentor? Where is the funding coming from? Imagine this project going to publication. Would there be any other name on it except your own?

Many high-achieving undergrads propose their own projects and carry them out under the supervision of a faculty member, who is directly responsible for them. The PI is still the faculty member. You would just be the first author. Most tenured PIs don't actually spend time in lab. In some projects, they don't even come up with the original design. But they get to put their name on it because they "advise" you and fund the project with their grant money.

Yes, I have a faculty mentor who also signed the assurance form (I quoted a portion of it above), which essentially asks the faculty mentor to provide guidance if the PI is a student. This project requires no funding whatsoever- we will just be sending out surveys via email, and collecting responses. No monetary compensation for participants either. If this project is published, I will definitely list my faculty mentor's name, as well as another staff member who will probably help with data analysis (but has asked not to have a large role).

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Where did the funding for the research come from? Whose name is on the grant? If there is no funding/money involved or if you self-funded the entire project, then you are truly the PI, although I would not use that specific terminology. PIs are generally the figureheads who get the grants, provide the lab space, give you the dataset, etc. If you set up the project through the IRB yourself with no oversight and the funding is in your name and you are the sole author on the project, then you're functioning as a PI.

For computational biology projects, you generally pay for core computing time and to do that, you have to have a funding account. That account normally is associated with some grant that some faculty member has.

I didn't need funding. I did everything myself, so I just worked for free. I am the sole author as well. I wouldn't write that I was the PI just because that seems super pretentious of an undergrad/postbacc student. But I really had zero oversight.

 

[almostdw]

I didn't need funding. I did everything myself, so I just worked for free. I am the sole author as well. I wouldn't write that I was the PI just because that seems super pretentious of an undergrad/postbacc student. But I really had zero oversight.

I don't want to list myself as the PI either, as I agree- it would sound pretentious and possibly suspicious. My problem is that I'm not sure what title to give my faculty mentor- if I just state "faculty mentor/supervisor", would people think it is strange that I didn't list him as the PI? But then if I list him as the PI, that would be false according to the IRB submissions. 🙁

 

[T800'sThumb]

How bewildering both your situations are..

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[almostdw]

Is anyone but you signing that IRB proposal? At many institutions, this is an granted status, and it's explicitly stated that students shall not be PI's.

When I was in grad school, the understanding was that the Principal Investigator is called that because he's the leader of a group of investigators (i.e. his lab) and is ultimately responsible for proposing, funding and governing laws and regulations. Could be a conversation starter tho, that's for sure.

I got signatures from my faculty mentor as well as the chair of my department. The department chair signature was required regardless of who the PI is, but the faculty mentor signature was required because I am a student. I had the same understanding prior to this, so I have a feeling that if I am listed as PI anywhere on my application or in the rec letter from my faculty mentor, that it would cause confusion.. Do you have any suggestions/opinions on how to explain it if this comes up?

 

[T800'sThumb]

How bewildering both your situations are..

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You're, like, some new holotype fossils of some really phylogenetically ambiguous anatomy that ultimately just sit in storage at a museum basement for centuries.

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[almostdw]

Yes! Had a faculty mentor and submitted an IRB request (and got it approved). Basically, I took an existing data set from my lab (that no one had done much work with), came up with my own research question/research design related to this data set, and implemented my project with only basic guidance from my faculty mentor. My university's IRB actually insisted I call myself the PI and that my faculty mentor was NOT the PI (since I designed and largely implemented the project on my own). I'd imagine if your project was actually done in someone's lab and not secondary data analysis that it might be more difficult to identify yourself as the PI.

Thanks! How did you describe this on your application/during interviews then? Did you ever have to explain why you were listed as the PI?

 

[greenturtle22]

Thanks! How did you describe this on your application/during interviews then? Did you ever have to explain why you were listed as the PI?

Tbh I just described it as an "independent research project" on my application and just listed what I actually did (like designing the study, data analysis methods used, conclusions, etc.). In interviews, I did the same. I never explicitly used the term "PI"; no adcoms/interviewers ever asked me about this (or to clarify). They were more interested in the goals of my project and what I actually did/learned from it.

 

[almostdw]

That's all fine, and I'm not saying you're not the lead researcher on this project, as you clearly are, or demeaning your involvement, because it's a great thing to develop and run your own research as an undergrad.
What I am saying is that PI does not translate into "the one doing the most work on the project". It's a specific term in the research hierarchy to denote the person under whom all the researchers work, whether you're in a lab doing bench work or surveying people in the street and crunching data. As an undergraduate, you must have a faculty supervisor who signs off on everything you do, even if that person puts in zero hours towards your research. And that person is the PI, not you, because that's the hierarchy.
You can ignore me if you want and continue calling yourself that, just know that someone reading your app down the line will scoff at your lack of understanding of academia and then, perhaps, judge you a little more harshly.

As both an undergrad and a masters student I've designed and run my own projects, and trained other students under me to continue those projects. And I absolutely listed them as "independent research". But I would never call myself the PI, even though my PIs put in no work at all towards those projects, just provided money, space, and signatures.

I am not listing myself as PI because I think that'll boost my application or because I feel that I am doing the most work and "deserve" to be labeled as such. I am simply trying to reduce any confusion/misunderstandings in my application because I know that it may seem strange that I am the PI for this project (as suggested by the IRB office and as stated in the IRB application). Also, please try to be open minded about the types of research and opportunities out there before jumping to conclusions about anyone. I had assumed the same thing as you going in based on my prior experiences with research (clinical and lab), but was told differently after contacting the IRB directly. It seems that there are always new things to learn when it comes to the research process.

 

[aldol16]

I didn't need funding. I did everything myself, so I just worked for free. I am the sole author as well. I wouldn't write that I was the PI just because that seems super pretentious of an undergrad/postbacc student. But I really had zero oversight.

Was your mathematical biology project computational in nature? Where did you get your data for the other projects?

 

[aldol16]

Yes, I have a faculty mentor who also signed the assurance form (I quoted a portion of it above), which essentially asks the faculty mentor to provide guidance if the PI is a student. This project requires no funding whatsoever- we will just be sending out surveys via email, and collecting responses. No monetary compensation for participants either. If this project is published, I will definitely list my faculty mentor's name, as well as another staff member who will probably help with data analysis (but has asked not to have a large role).

In that case, it seems that the faculty member would be considered the PI by most academics.

 

[almostdw]

In that case, it seems that the faculty member would be considered the PI by most academics.

Did you happen to get a rec letter from your PI? If so, was there anywhere that you had to state that your letter writer was the principal investigator, or were you able to say something like "faculty mentor"?

 

[sammiesings]

Did you happen to get a rec letter from your PI? If so, was there anywhere that you had to state that your letter writer was the principal investigator, or were you able to say something like "faculty mentor"?

I don't understand why you wouldn't just call your faculty mentor your PI if only to reduce any confusion. You say it's not to boost your application, so call them your PI or it will be confusing to adcoms and/or may make you look ignorant. They're not going to dig to figure all this out; they'll just assume you didn't know the correct terminology.

 

[almostdw]

I don't understand why you wouldn't just call your faculty mentor your PI if only to reduce any confusion. You say it's not to boost your application, so call them your PI or it will be confusing to adcoms and/or may make you look ignorant. They're not going to dig to figure all this out; they'll just assume you didn't know the correct terminology.

1. My faculty mentor asked to be removed from the PI role, and he will be writing a letter for me. This isn't the main reason, but I think it could get confusing if I call him the PI but then he calls me the PI in the letter.
2. The IRB is extremely strict- it felt like every single detail needed to be in place when I was completing the IRB application. There is a ton of responsibility placed on this role to follow their rules exactly, so I would feel nervous putting my mentor's name under PI when I was the one who signed off on all of those responsibilities. Tbh, I'm a bit scared of them now, haha.

I think you made a great point that adcoms don't know what is on the IRB application though. Perhaps I'll just ask my mentor to avoid using "PI" in the letter so I can refer to him as the PI in interviews, etc.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Was your mathematical biology project computational in nature? Where did you get your data for the other projects?

It was not computational. As I mentioned, the other project with a pub was not in a science field, so that's not really applicable. The project that got me the poster also didn't need funding. That was essentially a systematic review. I know I called it a clinical project, but I mischaracterized it there (the subject was clinical in nature, and I wrote my post quickly while waiting for my wife). I will be sure to describe each of these accurately and without any hint of grandiosity. I was never planning on using the term PI, but this thread piqued my interest, as I didn't want to confuse my terms by calling them independent projects.

 

[aldol16]

Did you happen to get a rec letter from your PI? If so, was there anywhere that you had to state that your letter writer was the principal investigator, or were you able to say something like "faculty mentor"?

Well, my case is different because my letter writer was my PhD adviser who also is the PI and faculty mentor. So in "description of relationship," I just wrote "PhD adviser." But you could write either "PI" or "research mentor" and I would encourage you to write the latter. If your project is independent, that will be evident in other areas.

 

[sammiesings]

1. My faculty mentor asked to be removed from the PI role, and he will be writing a letter for me. This isn't the main reason, but I think it could get confusing if I call him the PI but then he calls me the PI in the letter.
2. The IRB is extremely strict- it felt like every single detail needed to be in place when I was completing the IRB application. There is a ton of responsibility placed on this role to follow their rules exactly, so I would feel nervous putting my mentor's name under PI when I was the one who signed off on all of those responsibilities. Tbh, I'm a bit scared of them now, haha.

I think you made a great point that adcoms don't know what is on the IRB application though. Perhaps I'll just ask my mentor to avoid using "PI" in the letter so I can refer to him as the PI in interviews, etc.

As someone who works extensively with IRBs, I feel your pain lol. I'm really just worried for you that adcoms won't bother to figure it out. Thinking on it, what I would do if I were you is refer to them as my "research mentor"if you need to title them and ask them to just avoid the PI term. Pretty much what you already decided lol

 

[kraskadva]

Would you recommend just saying that I am a student researcher doing research with a faculty supervisor then? I am doing survey research that requires zero funding- I just need to contact the subjects, obtain responses, and then analyze the results.

Yes

I am not listing myself as PI because I think that'll boost my application or because I feel that I am doing the most work and "deserve" to be labeled as such. I am simply trying to reduce any confusion/misunderstandings in my application because I know that it may seem strange that I am the PI for this project (as suggested by the IRB office and as stated in the IRB application). Also, please try to be open minded about the types of research and opportunities out there before jumping to conclusions about anyone. I had assumed the same thing as you going in based on my prior experiences with research (clinical and lab), but was told differently after contacting the IRB directly. It seems that there are always new things to learn when it comes to the research process.

Then either the IRB is being confusing (in that they are essentially asking for the primary investigator, as opposed to the principal investigator, IDK as I've never done IRB paperwork) OR your school/faculty mentor is remiss in not putting him down as the PI, since that role also caries legal responsibilities in terms of IRB studies. From what you've said in this thread, and what I know of the IRB, I'd presume the latter.

And I am quite open minded about the various types of research projects that can be done. But terminology is what is generally accepted. And just because your supervisor/school made the mistake of listing you as the PI in the IRB paperwork, doesn't mean that you get that title in reality.

1. My faculty mentor asked to be removed from the PI role, and he will be writing a letter for me. This isn't the main reason, but I think it could get confusing if I call him the PI but then he calls me the PI in the letter.
2. The IRB is extremely strict- it felt like every single detail needed to be in place when I was completing the IRB application. There is a ton of responsibility placed on this role to follow their rules exactly, so I would feel nervous putting my mentor's name under PI when I was the one who signed off on all of those responsibilities. Tbh, I'm a bit scared of them now, haha.
I think you made a great point that adcoms don't know what is on the IRB application though. Perhaps I'll just ask my mentor to avoid using "PI" in the letter so I can refer to him as the PI in interviews, etc.

In your shoes, I would definitely ask him to avoid calling you the PI in his letter. And then you can either list/refer to him as your PI, or just 'faculty supervisor' whichever makes you more comfortable.