The St George’s Research Bridging Fund Scheme provides short-term funding for Research Institute staff employed on fixed-term contracts to help with the retention of research personnel, who are key to the implementation of St George’s research activities.
The Scheme aims to:
- Provide interim financial support to retain staff in employment where it is anticipated that there will be a short period between the end of one external funding agreement and the commencement of another.
This, in turn, will:
- Enable St George’s to maintain continuity of work and support programmes of research.
- Help retain experienced staff and so help sustain research teams and retain expertise built up over a period of years.
- Enable staff to avoid a break in employment where further funded work, for which they have appropriate skills and experience, will become available in the near future.
Conditions and Eligibility Criteria
- The area of research of the intended beneficiary of the funding must be a priority for St George’s research activity, and the researcher must be essential for this. Therefore, unless there are exceptional circumstances, the beneficiary should be part of a Research Institute.
- The intended beneficiary must have been employed by St George’s for a period of at least 12 months (this may be aggregated service where there have been short breaks between contracts due to the absence of bridging funds in the past).
- The Director of the Research Institute confirms that all other sources of funding have been explored, and that efforts were made to secure further funding at least three months before the expiry of the current funding.
- The relevant Research Institute has prepared an appropriate work programme on which the intended beneficiary will be employed, between the expiry of the present funding and the commencement of the new project. Funding should not be used to support work on an earlier grant award which has simply overrun.
- Every effort has been made to agree the earliest possible start date with the funding body, in order to minimise the period for which bridging funding will be required.
- St George’s Joint Research & Enterprise Services has been notified of a grant or other source of funding on which the intended beneficiary will subsequently be employed. Evidence of a new award must be supplied OR a grant or Fellowship application has been submitted which has a realistic chance of being awarded.
- The term of the funding should normally be for a maximum of three months, although in exceptional circumstances a longer term may be considered.
Call for Applications
Final call for 2023/24- Deadline 8th of July 2024, midday
Process and Decision Making
Applications must align to the Institute’s research strategy. The Director of the Research Institute will confirm whether the Institute supports the application. If the Institute Director supports the application then it can be progressed to the submission stage.
Applicants must complete the Research Bridging Fund Scheme application form, which must be signed by the intended beneficiary of the funding, the current grant holder, and the relevant Research Institute Director.
Please submit completed applications before the deadline to: JRES research@sgul.ac.uk
Any questions about the application process please contact Betty Woessner (Research Development and Compliance Manager) research@sgul.ac.uk
Applications will be submitted by the Head of Research Funding to the Research Steering Group to review.
Decisions on the allocation of funds will be made by the Research Steering Group.
Applications will be assessed by the Research Steering Group according to the following criteria:
- Scientific merit of proposed project / programme of work
- Coherence with the Research Strategy
- Track record of the intended beneficiary (as evidenced by their CV)
- Evidence of the exit strategy (i.e. a new research grant award)
The outcome of the review will be communicated to applicants by email by the Research Strategy and Development Manager, JRES, after the panel has met to review all applications for that period (October, January and May of each year). The panel’s decision is final.
Recovery of Bridging Fund
There may be occasions when a particular funding body is willing or able to bring forward the date of commencement of an award. If the commencement of an award is brought forward, then monies would need to be reimbursed to the Bridging Fund Scheme.
Application form and Guidance
Application form and guidance for St George’s Research Bridging Fund Scheme 2023/24:
Please submit completed applications before the deadline to: JRES research@sgul.ac.uk
Any questions about the application process please contact Betty Woessner (Research Development and Compliance Manager) research@sgul.ac.uk