Researcher Career Development (Bridging) Scheme

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Tab Content: Eligibility Criteria

You must:

  • have been employed at Lancaster University for at least 18 months when your current contract comes to an end;
  • be employed at Lancaster up to the date of the scheme commencing;
  • have an 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 as a minimum a funding application (or equivalent income source) in progress, on which you will be the/a researcher, lasting for a minimum of 12 months. This will need to be submitted prior to the end date of your current contract and the outcome known within 3 months of the end date of your current contract.

Tab Content: Terms of the Scheme

  • The funding will be offered on the same salary grade and point as on application but will include any successful promotion between the time of application and the scheme starting.
  • The scheme will offer the equivalent full time equivalent (FTE) as on application, which could be across one or more contracts.
  • You must declare other employment, so that the scheme and any other employment does not exceed the equivalent of 1.0 FTE.

Tab Content: Applicant Information

You will be asked to provide the following information which will be used to rank applications.:

Evidence of being retained at Lancaster – this might include:

Research Grants

Details of all those on which you expect to be the/a researcher including:

  • Name and ACP number of grant application
  • Duration of grant – this must be 12 months or more
  • Funder
  • Status – in progress/submitted/successful, including details of stage when applicable
  • Contribution you are making to the grant application
  • Your role within the application e.g. PI, Co-I, named researcher
  • Date when the outcome is expected, including stages if applicable
  • Track record of working with the funder/s (PI to also include details in their support letter)
  • Success rates of applications – sectorally and institutionally (when available)

Other income sources

Whilst it is expected that in most cases the evidence of being retained at Lancaster will be through a research grant, consideration will also be given to other income sources through which your employment at Lancaster can continue such as consultancy work. This must be for 12 months or more.

Outline of the intended activities over the period of the scheme

This should include clear deliverables, including your researcher training, skills and career development plans and the contributions you will make to enhancing research culture during the bridging period (e.g. within research group, team, department or institutionally) (max 500 words)

An identified mentor

The name of an identified mentor, who will support you during the bridging period. Ideally this will be someone who can provide additional support, other than your PI/project lead. Guidance is available here: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/organisational-development/all-staff/coaching-and-mentoring/mentoring/

Statement of support from PI/Project Lead

In addition, a statement of support from your PI/Project Lead (or equivalent) needs to be provided (max 300 words) to include details of funding application/s, the research teams track record with the funder and corroborating your performance.

The statement should be submitted to: researchculture@lancaster.ac.uk with the title 'RBS Application<Applicants name>

Tab Content: When to apply

You can make an applications at any time, providing it meets the eligibility criteria. There are two circumstances when decisions can be made to fund an application outside of a panel:

  • A successful grant application to start within 3 months of the current contract ending
  • A submitted grant application to start within 3 months of the current contract ending

In other circumstances the application will be reviewed at the next panel and need to be received by the following dates:

Deadline for application to be received – noon on:

Date of Panel

Date of outcome to applicants

Panel 1

1 Dec 25

w/c 8 Dec 25

w/c 15 Dec 25

Panel 2

9 Mar 26

w/c 16 Mar 26

w/c 23 Mar 26

Panel 3

11 May 26

w/c 18 May 26

w/c 25 May 26

If an application is made at panel 1 or 2 and then your circumstances change e.g. you are notified that your funding application has been successful, please get in touch: researchculture@lancaster.ac.uk.

The ranking of your application can then be reconsidered by the chair/panel in light of the new information provided.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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