AI research administrator effort certification narrative for PIs

End-of-lesson check

15 questions · take it digitally for instant feedback at tendril.neural-forge.io/learn/quiz/end-research-ai-research-administrator-effort-certification-narrative-creators

1. What is the primary document that AI generates in the effort certification process?

   1. An audit report documenting compliance findings
   2. A per-PI narrative summarizing effort by award for the certification period
   3. The final legally-certified effort report submitted to funding agencies
   4. A budget reallocation plan for resolving variances

2. Who holds legal responsibility for certifying effort on a research grant?

   1. The funding agency program officer
   2. The AI system generating the narrative
   3. The research administrator
   4. The Principal Investigator (PI)

3. What specific task can AI NOT perform in the effort certification workflow?

   1. Provide the legal attestation that effort is correct
   2. Highlight changes from the prior certification period
   3. Format output to the institution's template
   4. Summarize effort by award

4. When AI identifies changes between the current and prior certification periods, what happens next?

   1. The certification is put on hold indefinitely
   2. The changes are flagged for PI explanation before certification
   3. The changes are reported to the funding agency immediately
   4. The variances are automatically corrected by the system

5. The lesson describes AI's role as preparing the picture while another party certifies it. What does this illustrate?

   1. The distinction between analytical tasks and legal attestation
   2. The superiority of AI over human judgment
   3. The replacement of administrative staff
   4. The automation of compliance requirements

6. Can AI reallocate effort percentages across grants to fix variances?

   1. Yes, AI automatically adjusts variances during processing
   2. Yes, but only for variances under 5%
   3. No, but AI can recommend reallocations to the administrator
   4. No, AI cannot reallocate effort—only the PI can authorize changes

7. Why is the conversation between the PI and administrator described as audit-ready?

   1. It follows a required government template
   2. It is recorded automatically by the AI system
   3. It produces a legally binding contract
   4. It creates documented evidence that auditors can review during federal audits

8. Which of the following is explicitly listed as something AI does well in effort certification?

   1. Determine whether effort is reasonable
   2. Sign legal documents on behalf of the PI
   3. Reallocate effort across awards automatically
   4. Format output to match the institution's effort certification template

9. If an effort certification were submitted without PI involvement, what would be true?

   1. The AI system would reject it as incomplete
   2. The funding agency would accept it automatically
   3. The administrator's signature would suffice
   4. The submission would lack the required legal attestation

10. What is the PI required to do regarding the questions AI raises about effort changes?

    1. Forward them to the funding agency
    2. Answer them before certifying effort
    3. Delegate them entirely to the administrator
    4. Ignore them as AI-generated suggestions

11. What type of information about each grant does the AI narrative summarize?

    1. Effort percentages against the certification period
    2. Future funding projections
    3. Personnel changes in the lab
    4. Intellectual property disclosures

12. Why can't the AI-PI conversation replace the administrator-PI conversation?

    1. Because the conversation must be in person
    2. Because the administrator-PI dialogue creates audit-ready documentation
    3. Because administrators refuse to use AI tools
    4. Because AI lacks the technical vocabulary

13. What must the PI provide that AI fundamentally cannot provide?

    1. Legal attestation that the effort is correct
    2. Historical effort data
    3. Accurate percentage calculations
    4. Current salary information

14. According to the process described, who prepares the picture of effort distribution?

    1. The department chair prepares the picture
    2. AI prepares the picture
    3. The funding agency prepares the picture
    4. The auditor prepares the picture

15. What happens to a certification that lacks PI verification?

    1. It is sent back to the AI for reprocessing
    2. It is approved automatically after 48 hours
    3. It is non-compliant and may trigger audit findings
    4. The administrator's approval substitutes for the PI