FAQs

Use the application form and follow the Guidance Notes.
Make use of the word counts and be concise and clear.
Show evidence of your research interest and any engagement you have had with research.
The application must meet the programme criteria, make sense to the reader and reveal your passion for research.
Make sure that you have asked someone to read your application to ensure it reveals your strengths and interests, as well as pick up obvious mistakes.
On time and submitted before the deadline with support from your employer.

The Bridging Schemes assume that applicants are 6-12 months away from submitting a competitive application for an NIHR award.
If you are applying for a Pre-Doctoral award, you will have a research idea but your research question may not yet be fully formed. You will have publications and will have at least one supervisor in place.
If you are applying for a post Doc award, you will have developed some research leadership and will be looking to develop leadership skills further.
In either case, you should be aware of other opportunities in case your application is unsuccessful.

NHS R&D NW offers schemes for all stages of research careers and you need to establish where you are on the career pathway.
If entry level (Pre-Masters) the ECRDP or internship may be suitable. ECRDP offers personal development opportunities and the internship gives an opportunity to gain ‘hands on’ experience of doing research.
If you want to do a PhD and have developed early research skills, a Bridging Award would provide a period of funding and support to enable you to have time to write a competitive application for research funding.
If you have a PhD, you might look at the Post Doctoral Bridging scheme which provides funding and workshops to develop leadership skills and write a competitive application.
To seek personal advice, please contact NHS R&D NW for an informal 1:1 discussion.

Think about your skills and needs before finding out which opportunities are available both with NHS R&D NW and elsewhere. Maintain a sense of focus and discuss your needs with your supervisor. You will need supervisors and mentors to develop a research career.
Contact the R&D Department in your Trust/employer as they will often be aware of other opportunities.
Look at the NIHR site. Build your networks with others who are involved in research studies to share ideas. Be curious and open minded to new opportunities.
The NHS R&D NW workshop offerings give you a way to explore key topics which may be of use to someone starting out on a research career.

Usually you may want a period of reflection after an award and planning for your next steps.
The next steps will depend on which programme you have completed. You may want to continue to build networks and establish mentors and perhaps a coach for support. Look at the NHS R&D NW website and/or speak to a member of the team here for advice.
You will want to start to build a career plan and to speak to your manager about this to see how they could help you career and what you can give back to your team.

The journey is usually from an early career researcher to mid career researcher to an established researcher.
As an early career researcher, you will be curious and interested.
As a mid career researcher, you will have developed your skills, will be doing research and collaborating with others on projects.
As an established researcher, you will be leading research, influencing policy and probably writing grants to attract research funding.