Bridge funding provides financial support for existing research programs when external funding sources are expended. The funding needs to support the continuation of the operations of a lab or program to avoid ending the program while external support is being reviewed or pursued. Bridge funding must be used in a strategic and coordinated way to maintain project/lab momentum while assuring effective use of limited resources. Bridge program funds may be used to retain key personnel, the performance of limited laboratory or other research activity to permit the accumulation of new data essential to renew a source of external funding, or to prevent major disruptions in the continuation of research activities that would negatively impact the ability to secure continuation funding from external sponsors.

The Humanities and Arts Research Program fosters faculty research, scholarship and creative activity in the humanities and arts. The fund supports creative, scholarly activities that have the potential to drive external gifts, foundation funding, donations, and grant competitiveness of an individual or team. Eligible projects for this program include publications, performances, films, artistic or museum installations, digital arts and humanities projects, and other arts or humanities works. Proposals may be discipline specific or interdisciplinary in nature. A call for proposals is typically issued in the spring.