Environment submissions database

COVID-19 has led to a major loss of research productivity, with research income dropping by 13% over the first 6 months of lockdown. To mitigate the impact of the pandemic on our research base, we deployed more than £22M from SFC and UKRI to prioritise projects and careers. Disruption was assessed using the same approach across disciplines and grades; we have also intervened to redress the differential impact of COVID-19 in order to prevent long-term career detriment. Despite the disruption, we made a significant contribution to the national effort, at both institutional and individual level. We have undertaken an assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on all our funded projects based on the nature of, and ability to undertake, the project. We have captured the impact of personal circumstances on productivity, and allocated resources to ensure that projects can deliver against previously expected objectives. All research staff on furlough leave (over 500) continued to receive 100% of normal pay, and PIs are being allocated funding to extend contracts of these research staff for the full furlough period. The disruption both to life and work risks exacerbating existing inequalities in the ability of researchers to work productively. Through our newly launched Lab for Academic Culture we have analysed institutional data (outputs, funding applications, awards) since the start of lockdown which, coupled with pulse surveys of staff, is allowing us to capture, account for and, where possible, mitigate, the differential impact of the lockdown, with targeted support such as workload relief and research leave. Our 2,700 PGRs were supported to continue their studies where possible, including adapting thesis plans where appropriate. Where the project and/or personal circumstances has caused unavoidable disruption, we have allocated funds for both stipend support and hardship funding, irrespective of a student’s year of study or funding source. We have also created online resources, including PGR@Home, for personal and professional development, created two new positions to provide mental health support, and enhanced support for supervisors. Recognising that the research-only population are particularly vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, we have redeployed staff coming to the end of their contracts or provided bridging between projects. We have also reinstated our early-career fellowship scheme and we have brought forward the appointment of a development officer to support the delivery of our action plan for the Researcher Careers Concordat. The University of Glasgow led the COVID-19 response in Scotland. We contributed expertise and resources to support the fight against COVID-19, working with the NHS, industry and HEIs. The University set up and now hosts the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab (as part of a UK network of COVID-19 testing labs), with testing starting as early as April 2020. Through the MRC-UofG Centre for Virus Research, UofG led or contributed to vital COVID-19 related research projects, including viral sequencing and characterisation, and disease manifestation and dynamics. We are part of £20M COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium and supported the Oxford COVID-19 Phase III vaccine trial.