Science and Technology Facilities Council
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Call for nominations to STFC's Science Board, Committees and Peer Review Panels 2014

A number of vacancies have arisen for outstanding individuals to become members of STFC's committees and panels, as listed below.

This is an annual call and, as a result, membership may commence at different times.

The vacancies have arisen, or will be arising, due to the normal rotation of membership on:

  • The Advisory Panel for Public Engagement (APPE)
  • The Astronomy Grants Panel (AGP)
  • Challenge Led Applied Systems Programme  (CLASP)  Panel
  • The Computing Advisory Panel (CAP)
  • The Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP)
  • The Innovations Partnership Scheme Panel (IPS)
  • The Particle Physics Grants Panel (PPGP) - (Theory and Experimental)
  • The Particle Astrophysics Advisory Panel (PAAP)
  • The Nuclear Physic Advisory Panel (NPAP)
  • The Particle Physics Advisory Panel (PPAP)
  • The Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC)

If you wish to apply or to nominate a colleague please complete our online form.

The closing date for these posts is Friday 25th April 2014.

Brief descriptions of the panels and committees can be found below. Please follow the links above to view each panel's terms of reference.


Science Board

Science Board provides the Science and Technology Facilities Council with a strategic scientific overview and assessment of, and science advice on, all programmes supported by STFC.

Membership would begin in September 2014.

The Advisory Panel for Public Engagement

The Public Engagement programme addresses STFC public accountability; support for the national Science and Innovation agenda (and in particular the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) agenda); and regional education and skills needs.
The Panel provides advice to the Council and the executive on strategy, policies and programme balance for public engagement with STFC's science and technology; and provides new ideas for programme development. The panel normally meets twice a year, and reports annually to STFC’s Science Board. 

Membership would begin in May 2014.

The Astronomy Grants Panel

The Astronomy Grants Panel is responsible for assessing and making recommendations to the STFC Executive on research grant applications in Astronomy and Space Science covering scientific exploitation of facilities and projects, ‘blue skies’ technology research, theory, modelling, data handling and HPC access.

Membership would begin in January 2015.

The Challenge Led Applied Systems Programme

The CLASP Panel is a peer review body, set up to make recommendations on grant applications received against the CLASP calls. CLASP applies STFC research to global research challenges in energy, environment, healthcare and security. Panel members are required to mentor applicants through the full proposal preparation and to assess progress of the project by review of reports.

Membership would begin in September 2014

The Computing Advisory Panel

The Computing Advisory Panel is responsible for advising the STFC Executive on the strategy for, and management of, provision for computing facilities and data handling in support of the STFC Science and Facilities Programme.  This includes e-science, High Performance and High Throughput Computing, and data management and network provision where appropriate.

Membership would begin in July 2014

The Education, Training and Careers Committee

The Committee provides advice to Science Board and the Executive on strategy, policies and programme balance for all aspects of education and training relevant to the STFC core programme including Studentships, Fellowships, equality issues and career development of early career researchers. The Committee oversees the allocation of STFC quota studentships, the peer review and award of fellowships and CASE studentships and the quality of training provided by these programmes. The Committee meets three times a year and members usually serve on the Fellowships panel at some point during their term.

Membership would begin in September 2014.

The Innovations Partnership Schemes Panel

The Innovations Partnership Schemes (IPS) Panel reviews grant applications received against the following programmes:

  • Full and Mini IPS, which support the transfer of technology and expertise to the market place in partnership with industry and other academic disciplines.
  • IPS Fellowships, which support a Fellow to develop opportunities for the commercial exploitation of technologies arising from STFC-funded research.
  • Follow-on Funding (FoF), which supports the very early or pre-seed stage of turning STFC-funded research outputs into commercial propositions.

Membership would begin in September 2014.

The Particle Astrophysics Advisory Panel, Nuclear Physics Advisory Panel and the Particle Physics Advisory Panel

The STFC Advisory Panels report to Science Board, providing a route for consultation and interaction with the community. The panels draft and maintain a roadmap describing current and future research opportunities in their areas.

Vacancies for these panels will be arising in the next 12 months.

The Particle Physics Grants Panel (Theory and Experiment)

The Particle Physics Grants Panel (PPGP) is responsible for assessing and making recommendations to the STFC Executive on research grant applications in particle physics.

Membership would begin in the next 12 months

The Projects Peer Review Panel

The Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP) is responsible for assessing projects that the Council consider have significant scientific priority and proposals for the development of the Council's facilities. The PPRP also considers requests for funding research and development projects that will provide underpinning technologies for future projects.

Membership would begin in January 2015

Additional information

For all committees, members will be appointed for two years with the exception of the PPGP where members will be appointed for three years.

Members of STFC advisory bodies are expected to have expertise across the breadth of their scientific remits, from a range of different institutions. Applicants and nominees should have a strong scientific reputation. See How do we appoint our committee members.

Unless otherwise stated, applications and nominations are sought from members of the particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics research communities and from the physical and life sciences research communities supported by STFC facilities in both academia and industry. Submissions from scientists who are STFC employees are also welcome.

The Secretary of State is committed to the principle of public appointment with independent assessments, openness and transparency of process and to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns.

STFC will appoint the best members possible for its advisory bodies but also seeks to ensure that membership reflects the diversity within the relevant research communities and so would particularly welcome nominees from groups traditionally underrepresented on such bodies. STFC welcomes applications and nominations from appropriate experts based outside the UK.

If you wish to apply or to nominate a colleague, please complete the online form. Alternatively, please complete the proforma and email it to Lisa Kehoe.

If nominating, please ensure that the nominee is aware of and agrees to nomination.

The closing date is Friday 25th April 2014.

If you require any further information, please contact Lisa Kehoe.

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