Is it acceptable to contact the PI for a research position, in addition to applying through the careers site?
Unless this is an extremely high-profile position likely to get thousands of applicants, I don't think there is any harm in dropping the PI a brief email (3 sentences!) informing them you've applied for their position, telling them how much you respect their work, and letting them know they can contact you if they need any additional information.  If their HR department is useless, the PI may ask you to send your cover letter &amp; CV.  But write the letter in such a way that the PI can easily ignore the letter (doesn't feel obliged to respond) if their HR department functions well.