Program Overview

Researcher Career Development (Bridging) Scheme

The Researcher Career Development (Bridging) Scheme offers financial and tailored support to researchers/research-related staff who are coming to the end of their contract and expect a gap before starting a new contract at Lancaster. By providing a period of financial security and allowing an opportunity for professional and career development, it helps to address the challenges faced by researchers on time-limited contracts.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the scheme, applicants must:

• Have been employed at Lancaster University for at least 18 months when their current contract comes to an end
• Be employed at Lancaster up to the application submission
• Have an indefinite with end date (indefinite contingent) or fixed-term contract, which will be coming to an end on the 30 July 2026 or earlier
• Be based in the UK for the duration of the scheme
• Have a minimum of an application for an externally funded research project (or equivalent external income source) submitted or in progress on which they will be the/a researcher employed at Lancaster

Terms

• The funding will be offered on the same spinal point as on application
• The funding will typically be offered for a period of up to 3 months
• The scheme will offer the equivalent full-time equivalent (FTE) as on application, which could be across one or more contracts
• Applicants must declare other employment, so that the scheme and any other employment does not exceed the equivalent of 1.0 FTE
• Applicants are expected to make a positive contribution to research culture at Lancaster during the funded period
• Applicants must have an identified mentor for the period of the scheme, ideally someone other than their PI/project lead

Application Process

Applicants will be asked to provide the following information on the application form, which will be used to rank applications:

• Evidence of future employment at Lancaster - to include information about research grant applications and/or other external income sources
• Intended activities over the period of the scheme, including researcher training, skills, and career development plans, the development of research funding applications, and the contributions they will make to enhancing research culture at the Lancaster campus during the bridging period
• An identified mentor, who will support them during the bridging period
• A Statement of support from their current PI/Project Lead/Line Manager no more than 300 words corroborating the value of the funding applications detailed and the research team's track record with the funder, as relevant, and corroborating their performance

Application Deadlines

The deadlines for application to be received are:

• Panel 1: 1 Dec 25
• Panel 2: 9 Mar 26
• Panel 3: 11 May 26

Frequently Asked Questions

What details do I need to provide about research grants?

Applicants will be asked to provide for each research funding application on which they would expect to be the/a researcher:

• Name and ACP number of the grant application
• Duration of the research grant
• Funder and specific funding scheme/call
• Status in progress/submitted/successful, including details of stage when applicable
• Date when outcome expected, including stages if applicable
• Their contribution to the grant application
• Their role within the application e.g. PI, Co-I, named researcher
• Track record of working with the funder/s (PI to also include details in their support letter)
• Any information, where known, about the chances of success given the funding scheme

What if my circumstances change during the year?

Applicants should keep the research culture team informed once they have made an application to the Researcher Career Development (Bridging) Scheme. For example, if their submitted funding application has been successful, as this is likely to affect the ranking of applications.

What type of research culture activities can I contribute to?

Applicants should refer to the Research-excellence Culture Action Plan and website for more information about research culture activities at Lancaster. The contributions could be within their discipline and research group, departmentally, faculty, and/or institutional.

I am applying for funding for only one week - do I need to make a full application?

Applicants who are requiring funding for one week or less should contact the research culture team to discuss further.

I am on a Skilled Worker visa, that ends at the same time as my contract. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, once the contract extension has been submitted, an extension to the visa can be requested. It can take several weeks for the visa extension to go through, so applicants are advised to apply for the first panel in December (deadline 1 December 25) if they meet the eligibility criteria and let the research culture team know that they are on a visa.