Introduction
Vanderbilt University has created the Provost Discovery Bridge Funding Program to provide short-term financial support—for three to six months—to faculty researchers affected by changes in federal policy.
The goal of this program is to provide faculty who have received a termination or stop-work order on a federal grant with the opportunity to pivot quickly and strategically as they pursue new federal or foundation funding opportunities.
It is important to note that this is an effort to invest in the continued success of faculty researchers, their ideas and the vibrant research ecosystem that defines Vanderbilt.
Click here to visit the InfoReady application portal.
Please direct your questions to ProvostBridgeFund@vanderbilt.edu.
As you prepare your application, please use this attestation template and this budget template with your school-designated contact.
About the Program
The Provost recognizes that changes in policy around federal funding have created uncertainty, hardships and challenges for faculty research, which is core to Vanderbilt’s mission. To support faculty whose scholarly work has been impacted by changes in federal policy, the Provost is pleased to announce the launch of the Provost Bridge Funding Program. This program provides short-term financial support—typically for a period of three to six months—for principal investigators who have received a termination or stop-work order on a federal grant. Its purpose is to help researchers pivot quickly and strategically as they pursue new federal or foundation funding opportunities. All Vanderbilt investigators are eligible. Priority will be given to pre-tenure faculty.
Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis to ensure a rapid response, and funding decisions will be made promptly to minimize research disruptions. In coordination with school leadership, each school has designated a primary contact who will assist faculty in submitting application materials. School-level contacts are:
- A&S, John McLean
- Basic Sciences, your department chair and Sr. Associate Dean of Research Mark Magnuson
- Divinity, Dean Yolanda Pierce
- Engineering, Nilanjan Sarkar
- Nursing, Mariann Piano
- Peabody, Ellen Goldring who will follow-up with Department Chairs
For schools with an existing school-level bridge funding program, materials required by that internal process should be submitted to request Provost-level support. For schools without a formal internal bridge funding program, a one-page proposal and accompanying budget will be sufficient to begin the review. Funds generally cannot be used for subawards to external institutions unless essential and with Provost approval.
Proposals that propose continuing support for personnel, students, postdocs, and critical supplies and equipment will be prioritized. This is not a mechanism for funding new projects. Applicants are encouraged to streamline proposals to focus on one or two key goals that will facilitate new opportunities for federal and foundation funding. All applications must be submitted through the InfoReady system by each school or college Dean’s office. Submitters will be asked to certify that the Dean is aware of and supports the application and the proposed dollar match request. At the end of the bridge fund award period, PIs will be asked to summarize the new funders and research directions identified. Proposals will be reviewed by the Office of Research, Office of Faculty Affairs, and faculty serving in advisory roles to senior leadership to facilitate quick turnaround in review panel decisions.
We encourage all eligible faculty to take advantage of this opportunity. Bridge funding is an investment in your continued success, your ideas, and the vibrant research ecosystem that defines Vanderbilt.
Guidelines For Approval
Goal:
Provide resources for three to six months to PIs who have received a termination or stop-work order on a federal grant. Purpose is to help faculty pivot to meet new federal and foundation funding opportunities.
Eligibility:
Open to all faculty; priority is given to pre-tenure faculty to support career progression.
Review Process:
A review panel comprised of the vice provost for faculty affairs and professional education and the vice provost for research (or their associate provost designates) and faculty members serving in advisory roles will review applications and make recommendations to the provost.
Application Process:
Applications will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis. Decisions will be issued within one week. Deans or their designates nominate candidates. Awarded PIs receive a one-for-one match between the provost and dean for the approved amount. PI works closely with the designated contact in accordance with the following:
- For PIs in A&S, please work with John McLean (senior associate dean for research and graduate education).
- For PIs in Basic Sciences, please work with department chair and Mark Magnuson (Sr. Associate Dean of Research).
- For PIs in Divinity, please work with Dean Yolanda Pierce.
- For PIs in Engineering, please work with Nilanjan Sarkar (senior associate dean for faculty affairs).
- For PIs in Nursing, please work with Mariann Piano (senior associate dean for research).
- For PIs in Peabody, please work with Ellen Goldring (vice dean) who will follow up with department chairs.
The contact works collaboratively with the PI to help determine the best course of action to:
- Pivot to meet new federal and foundation funding opportunities
- If a pivot is possible, the PI identifies the most promising and impactful aims
- If a pivot is not possible, a ramp-down plan is devised
- The PI should continue to advance scientific outcomes from prior federal funding (e.g., by publishing intermediate results)
In general, may not be used for subcontracts when Vanderbilt is the prime award and the subcontract is at another institution. If the VU PI is prime awardee and the subcontract is for essential data collection to be done by a subcontract that the VU PI cannot conduct from Vanderbilt (e.g., distant location, specific research population), then an exception may be granted by the provost.
Pre-Submission Guidelines (complete attestation template)
The school-designated contact, as assigned above, will certify that:
- Dean approves of the bridge funding proposal to the provost.
- Dean is aware of the one-for-one match to meet the awarded amount.
- If a pivot is possible, evidence of historical and planned proposals should be submitted. PI will work with Research Development and Support to identify new funders.
- If a pivot is not possible, a ramp-down plan has been devised.
- CBO has confirmed no available faculty funds.
Submission Guidelines:
The school-designed contact, as assigned above, will:
- Upload stop-work order or termination letter; SPA can assist
- For schools with a formalized bridge funding program, upload the same materials used to secure the school-level bridge and the terms of the school-level award
- For schools with no formalized bridge funding program, upload a one-page proposal with purpose, funds requested and a proposed budget
- Detail the pivot to other opportunities plan or the ramp-down plan for which funds are being requested
Post Award Guidelines:
PI summarizes project pivot with the new funders and research directions identified at bridge award end date.
FAQs
- Who can apply?
All faculty can apply for the program. Priority will be given to pre-tenure faculty to support career progression. - What is the application process?
Deans (or their designee) will nominate candidates, and applications will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis with decisions communicated within one week. - Then what happens?
- Principal investigators who are awarded funding will receive a one-for-one match between the provost and dean for the approved amount. The PI will work closely with a designated contact to determine the best course of action, including:
- Pivot to meet new federal and foundation funding opportunities
- If a pivot is possible, the PI identifies the most promising and impactful aims
- If a pivot is not possible, a ramp-down plan is devised
- Note: The PI should continue to advance scientific outcomes from prior federal funding (e.g., by publishing intermediate results).
- Principal investigators who are awarded funding will receive a one-for-one match between the provost and dean for the approved amount. The PI will work closely with a designated contact to determine the best course of action, including:
- Who are the designated contacts:
- A&S, John McLean
- Basic Sciences, department chair and Mark Magnuson
- Engineering, Nilanjan Sarkar
- Nursing, Mariann Piano
- Peabody, Ellen Goldring (who will follow up with department chairs)
- The school-designated contact will also certify that:
- Dean approves of the bridge funding proposal to the provost.
- Dean is aware of the one-for-one match to meet the awarded amount.
- If a pivot is possible, evidence of historical and planned proposals should be submitted. (PI will work with Research Development and Support to identify new funders).
- If a pivot is not possible, a ramp-down plan has been devised.
- CBO has confirmed no available faculty funds.
- Who is making award decisions?
A review panel made up of the vice provost for faculty affairs and professional education and the vice provost for research (or their associate provost designates) and faculty members serving in advisory roles will review applications and make recommendations to the provost. - Can this program support subs?
Grant funding may not be used for subs when Vanderbilt is the prime and the sub is at another institution. If the Vanderbilt PI is prime and the sub is for essential data collection to be done by a sub that the Vanderbilt PI cannot conduct from Vanderbilt (e.g., due to a distant location, specific research population, etc.), then an exception may be granted by the provost. - What are the guidelines for submission?
- Upload stop-work order or termination letter. SPA can assist.
- For schools with a bridge funding program, upload the same materials used to secure the school-level bridge and the terms of the school-level award.
- For schools with no bridge funding program, upload one-page proposal with purpose, funds requested and a proposed budget.
- Detail the pivot to other opportunities plan or the ramp-down plan for which funds are being requested.
- What are post award guidelines?
The PI will summarize the project pivot with the new funders and research directions identified at a bridge award end date.