Researcher Career Development Scheme

Researcher Career Development (Bridging) Scheme 2024-2025

The scheme is supported through the Research England QR Enhancing Research Culture Fund.

In 2024/25 there were 18 researchers that applied for the scheme. Of these seven researchers were offered and five took up a place, with two researchers securing employment opportunities in the meantime. Those supported received up to 3 months of contract extension. In this time they took up professional and career development opportunities and made contributions to enhancing the research culture at Lancaster.

Read the case studies below to find out how the scheme supported researchers at Lancaster.

Dr Peter Hodgson - Senior Research Assistant in Physics

Job security as a postdoctoral researcher is often uncertain, with funding gaps frequently arising between grants. I found myself in such a situation and although several grant applications were underway, their start dates were several months away. Therefore, I applied to the Researcher Career Development Scheme to bridge this period.

Dr Serdar Tekin, Research Associate

At the time of applying, to the scheme I was actively involved in an ongoing £1.1M Innovate UK project. While multiple funding applications were in progress, there was a potential short-term funding gap due to timing, leaving me in a precarious financial situation. The Researcher Career Development Scheme provided me with the financial support in the period between one contract ending and the next starting.

Dr Claire Mason - Research Fellow, Centre for Child & Family Justice

I am committed to a career in research, but this leaves me open to the precarities of external funding. The bridging scheme provided me with financial security during a period when there was a gap between my research contracts. It was very useful to have dedicated time to develop grant applications to enhance my success in securing external funding.