STFC Astronomy Grants Panel: member vacancies

• Closing date: 18 May 2025
• Number of positions: 1
• Length of term: Membership is for 1 + 2 years
• Time commitment: Members will need to attend the in-person peer review meetings (2.5 to 4 days) in September in Swindon, an online kick-off meeting (February or March) and plenary meeting (November or December), both approximately half a day.
• Time commitment: The majority of the panel pre-meeting workload occurs in April (reviewer selection), and application reading and scoring takes place over July and August.
• Remuneration: £170 per day
• Outcomes communicated: November 2025

The Astronomy Grants Panel is an advisory body set up to carry out peer review in the area of astronomy research and exploitation along with novel technology development with STFC.

You will primarily sit on the Small Awards Panel, but may be asked to participate in the Large Awards Panel if applications are invited within your area of expertise.

Who we’re looking for

Panel members will be expected to:

• be able to meet the commitments and attendance requirements of the panel
• be able to work across research disciplines
• adhere to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and STFC’s equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policies and procedures

What you’ll be doing

You will primarily sit on the Small Awards Panel. This panel is split into two sub-panels, in your application please indicate the sub-panel your expertise is relevant to. The sub-panels consider the remit as outlined in the following.

Astronomy Observation and Astronomy Theory Sub-panel

This sub-panel covers theory, including modelling, simulation and related software development, observation, experiment and new technology research, relevant to all aspects of astronomy and astrophysics beyond the solar system. This includes:

• stellar physics, including star formation and extra-solar planetary systems (studies of the Sun as part of a programme of stellar physics may fit here)
• studies of transient phenomena
• the interstellar medium and galactic astronomy
• extra-galactic astronomy and cosmology
• the astrophysical aspects of particle astrophysics, where particle astrophysics includes dark matter, the origin of cosmic rays and gravity
• blue skies technology and instrumentation development applicable to the aforementioned areas (Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 to 4)
• laboratory astrophysics, including software development, relevant to the aforementioned programmes

Solar Studies and Planetary Studies Sub-panel

This sub-panel covers:

• theory, including modelling, simulation and related software development
• observation, experiment and new technology research, relevant to all aspects of solar system science

This includes:

• solar physics and heliospheric physics
• space-based terrestrial magnetospheric science and fundamental space plasma physics (excluding the impact on the Earth’s neutral atmosphere)
• planetary science, including the surfaces and interiors, atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres of the solar system bodies other than the Earth
• studies of other solar system bodies including comets, asteroids, meteorites (for example)
• laboratory studies of solar system material such as meteorites, returned samples, solar system analogues, other laboratory physics relevant to the area of the call and related software development
• blue skies technology and instrumentation development applicable to the above areas (TRL 1-4)

You may be asked to participate in the Large Awards Panel if applications are invited within your area of expertise.

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 UKRI Engagement Hub.

How we’ll assess your application

Applications will be assessed against the following selection criteria. Please demonstrate how you meet the criteria in your application:

• relevant scientific expertise in one or more of the areas outlined in ‘What you’ll be doing’
• experience of assessing grant applications or peer review
• skills in participating and balancing views, arguments and interests of other participants

All applications will be assessed based on STFC panel recruitment guidelines and in consultation with the committee chair.

Further information

Contact Chloe Woodcock with any questions.
Email: chloe.woodcock@stfc.ukri.org

See details about the current membership

We are committed to the principles of fair and transparent decision-making, promoting 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 application guidance documents.

Appointments to the advisory panel are made on merit. However, we are keen to maintain diversity in its membership. Applications from women, those with a disability or members of minority ethnic groups are therefore especially welcome.

Last updated: 8 April 2025