NIHR Principal Investigator Pipeline Programme (PIPP) in Scotland - Eligibility

You can apply to NIHR PIPP in Scotland if you are:

• a registered Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) nurse or midwife, or a General Dental Council (GDC) registered dental nurse
• employed by the NHS or another health or social care organisation funded by the Scottish Government
• based in Scotland

You also need to:

• work in research delivery at least 50% of the time
• have enough experience in research delivery to develop your role into a PI. There are no specific requirements based on your pay band or length of time working in research
• have the support of both your line manager and a local PI(s)
• can commit to the timeframe of the programme
• can identify NIHR portfolio studies to act as PI on

If you already have PI experience

You can also apply if you:

• have taken on the role of PI in the past and want to consolidate your learning
• want to act as the PI on a type of study that you don't have experience on

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture. We encourage applications from research delivery nurses and midwives working across a range of settings, including primary, secondary, community and social care.

Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at NIHR. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about eligibility

Is the PIPP open to all nurses and midwives?

To be eligible, you must be a registered nurse or midwife and work in a research delivery capacity for at least 50% of your role.

Nurses or midwives who are not funded for 50% or more of their time to work in research (and therefore not eligible for the PIPP), can apply to take part in another NIHR research development initiative called the Associate Principal Investigator Scheme. 

Is PIPP only for nurses working in secondary care?

No, the programme is open to research nurses and midwives working in primary, secondary and out of hospital settings. This includes community, public health and social care settings.

Do I need to be on a specific Agenda for Change (AfC) band to take part?

There are no requirements about AfC banding or time within a research role. Applicants should have enough research delivery experience to feel competent to wish to develop their role further to be a Principal Investigator.

Is the PIPP open to Allied Health Professionals working in research or Clinical Research Practitioners (CRPs)?

The PIPP is currently only open to research nurses and midwives. Other professional groups are advised to contact their research network or speak to their organisational research office to find out about alternative research development programmes.

Is NIHR PIPP in Scotland open to nurses who don't live and work in Scotland?

The NIHR PIPP in Scotland programme is only open to nurses and midwives working in Scotland.  To apply for the programme in England, please visit the NIHR website.

Next - How to apply

Return to main PIPP in Scotland page.

Contact for more information - please email education@edinburghcrf.ed.ac.uk.