STFC Advisory Panel for Public Engagement: member vacancies

• Closing date: 18 May 2025
• Number of positions: Up to three
• Length of term: Three years
• Time commitment: The panel meets twice a year, usually in May or June which is in-person for two days including an overnight stay at a location in the UK, and October which is online, usually within one day
• Remuneration: £170 per day
• Outcomes communicated: October 2025

The Advisory Panel for Public Engagement (APPE) provides advice to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) executive and public engagement teams (Programmes Directorate and National Labs) on strategy, policies and programme balance for public engagement.

Members have the opportunity to influence STFC’s strategy, policies and funding priorities for public engagement.

We are particularly keen to receive applications from:

• teachers and educators
• individuals working in industry, science centres, policy bodies and professional societies
• non-STFC research laboratories and institutes
• different sectors that place engagement with people and communities at the heart of their practice

Who we’re looking for

We welcome applications from individuals across all career stages, subject to demonstrating expertise proportionate to your career stage.

We are particularly keen to receive panel membership applications from those with experience of working in public engagement support and enabling roles in:

• higher education institutes
• policy bodies
• professional societies
• non-STFC research laboratories and institutes
• researchers with a rich history of public engagement activity

We welcome public and private sector experience.

What you’ll be doing

Members will guide STFC to develop the societal impact of our investments and best support our research and innovation communities.

Members will also be able to expand their professional networks and explore a wide range of challenges related to engagement with STFC science and engineering.

Our handbook for members of STFC’s advisory bodies will help you to understand our expectations of a panel member. The handbook also includes useful information on other topics, such as:

• equality and diversity
• conflicts of interest
• confidentiality
• our policy on travel, subsistence and remunerated meeting fees

How to apply

Read the application guidance documents, which include:

• a preview of the application form
• questions and answers from a webinar we held in 2021
• testimonies from members of STFC panels, boards and committees

Apply using the online form on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Engagement Hub.

How we'll assess your application

You must demonstrate expertise in the following APPE selection criteria:

• wide-ranging knowledge of the public engagement and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) inspiration landscape in the UK (essential) and beyond
• knowledge of the STFC public engagement strategy and wider STFC strategies and priorities

You must also meet one of the following criteria:

• expertise in the planning, delivery and evaluation of a range of public engagement programmes
• expertise in supporting public engagement delivery in academic or public-facing contexts
• expertise in the planning, delivery, participation and evaluation of a range of community or youth engagement programmes

Further information

Contact Jenni Chambers with any questions.
Email: jenni.chambers@stfc.ukri.org

See details about the current membership

We are committed to the principles of fair and transparent decision-making, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). In addition to UKRI principles on EDI, STFC continues to develop a range of measures and objectives around EDI. We have undertaken an equality, diversity and inclusion impact assessment for this opportunity.  See the application guidance documents.

Appointments to the advisory panel are made on merit. However, we are keen to maintain diversity in its membership. Applications are especially welcome from:

• women
• those with a disability
• members of minority ethnic groups

We will use diversity of membership as part of our selection criteria where we have two or more equally qualified or appointable candidates.

The panel operates via facilitated group working and problem-solving, so enthusiasm for or experience of such methods is required. Some working group activity is expected outside of full APPE meetings.

Last updated: 11 April 2025