Bridge Funding for Researchers
The Dean for Research has developed a bridge funding program to support key research staff members during critical gaps in extramural funding. The goal of this fund is to stabilize research programs to maintain productivity when external funding is temporarily disrupted, while improve the quality of life for researchers.
Key issues for research staff members at Princeton University include: (1) employment and salary are dependent on continuous external grants for a majority of personnel; and (2) flat or declining funding from government granting agencies has led to lower success rates — even highly successful programs and investigators are becoming affected.
Eligibility
Eligibility normally covers the ranks of Research Scholars, Senior Research Scholars, and Senior Professional Specialists (Researchers) with a demonstrated history of successful extramural funding and good prospects for renewal of funding. Researchers may become eligible for the bridge fund when they:
- lead an independent research program which has temporarily lost support; or
- are a critical part of a faculty member- or researcher-led research program that has temporarily lost support; or
- provide a key resource to a facility or multi-investigator cooperative research program that has temporarily lost support.
The ranks of graduate students, post-doctoral research associates, associate research scholars, associate professional specialists, and professional specialists are normally ineligible for bridge funding from this program and should consult their sponsor (highest ranking faculty administrator in the candidate’s discipline — school dean, department chairperson or program director) about other means of support.
Application Guidelines
Researchers who are facing an interruption in grant support should discuss their plans for obtaining funding with departmental leadership and faculty advisors at the earliest time.
A request for gap funding must be submitted with the sponsor’s fullest support. In making a request, the sponsor should make a case for the strategic importance of the individual, research program, and discipline to the department (school or program) and the priorities of the University. Normally, the department (school or program) will be expected to endorse its commitment to the researcher by contributing matching funds. Requests for bridge funds must also include a plan for career transitioning should external funding not be reinstated.
Applications must be signed by both the researcher and sponsor and include the following materials:
- Letter from sponsoring school, department, or program
- Explanation of the situation and plans for the future
- Curriculum vitae of researcher, including the amount of time in the present position
- Previous external funded grants (during the past 5 years) and current and pending support that includes all federal, private, and University sources. Evidence of attempts to obtain funding (abstracts of submitted grants, panel reviews, priority scores or other evaluations and comments).
- Budget and justification, including the department matching funds with accompanying commitment letter for the match. (Budget will normally cover salary and benefits, but may include essential supplies and travel as necessary to continue the research. Include the date(s) when present funding ends and the earliest date when new funding may begin.)
Applications will be accepted throughout the year. Proposals will be reviewed by an ad hoc committee headed by the Associate Dean for Research and recommendations made to the Dean for Research for a final decision. Notification of award will be made within one month of submission. Awards will be for a period not to exceed 8 months, or until extramural funding is re-established, which ever occurs first.
Submit complete applications by email to A. J. Stewart Smith, Dean for Research, (smithajs@princeton.edu), with a copy to Karla Ewalt (kewalt@princeton.edu).