UKRI Infrastructure and Digital Research Infrastructure advisory committees vacancies

• Closing date: 9 August 5pm (UK time)
• Number of positions: Six member vacancies:

  Five for the Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure

  One for the Infrastructure Advisory Committee

• Length of term: Three years with the possibility of an extension, beginning October 2024.
• Time commitment: Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure:

  Attendance of at least two in-person meetings per year, plus a time commitment of one to two days to prepare for each meeting.

  Infrastructure Advisory Committee:

  Attendance of two in-person meetings per year, plus a time commitment of three to five days per year to complete and review supporting paperwork between each meeting.

• Remuneration: Please note this is not a salaried position, although reasonable travel and subsistence expenses will be paid in accordance with the UKRI travel, subsistence and expenses policy.
• Interview date: 16 and 23 September 2024
• Outcomes communicated: 27 September 2024

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) invites applications to join its:

• Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure (AGD)
• Infrastructure Advisory Committee (IAC)

The AGD advises UKRI’s Executive Committee and UKRI Board on the delivery of UKRI’s Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) strategy and on prioritising of projects for the pan-UKRI DRI programme portfolio, developed by UKRI’s Digital Research Infrastructure Committee.

The IAC advises UKRI’s Executive Committee and UKRI Board on prioritising projects for the pan-UKRI research and innovation infrastructure portfolio funded through the Infrastructure Fund.

The remit and role of the IAC and AGD are distinct but complementary. Both are chaired by the UKRI Champion for Infrastructure Professor Mark Thomson.

Who we’re looking for

Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure

UKRI invites applications to join the recently established Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure (AGD). We are seeking up to five independent members to join the expanding advisory group.

We are seeking individuals at all career stages with a strong interest in and experience of using, planning or delivering digital research and innovation infrastructure, a deep knowledge in their professional area, and an ability to think strategically beyond their discipline and make connections across UKRI’s broad remit.

Individuals should have excellent understanding and experience of using, planning or delivering state of the art digital research and innovation infrastructure in one or more of the following areas:

• data infrastructure
• large-scale computing
• secure services and tools for sensitive data
• DRI skills and career pathways
• DRI foundational tools, techniques and practices, for example software, cybersecurity and other critical elements that underpin digital infrastructure

Individuals should have experience of working in one or more of the following areas:

• higher education
• innovation and research organisations
• industry and commerce
• policy
• civil society

Individuals should also have:

• demonstrable awareness of current and emerging opportunities and challenges in digital research infrastructure
• experience of building and developing successful partnerships with a range of organisations and stakeholders
• effective communicator that works well as part of a team
• the ability to think strategically beyond a single discipline or sector

The AGD requires a range of knowledge, experience and perspectives to richly inform its work. We are committed to creating a well-balanced and diverse group, representative of different disciplines, career stages, institution types and geographical regions.

While we particularly welcome applications from individuals with a background in international digital research infrastructures, those based outside the UK, early or mid-career professionals, and members of groups currently under-represented at senior levels in the research and innovation community, all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

UKRI Infrastructure Advisory Committee

UKRI is seeking a senior-level expert member with wide experience in research and innovation (R&I) infrastructure to join its independent Infrastructure Advisory Committee.

Individuals should possess:

• a strong interest and experience in R&I infrastructure planning or delivery, including issues such as environmental sustainability and trusted research
• deep expertise in their professional area, with the ability to work strategically and collegiately to reach collective decisions across UKRI’s broad remit and spectrum of disciplines
• a strong interest and awareness of the increasing geopolitical relevance of R&I in an international context

We are committed to creating a well-balanced and diverse committee, representative of different disciplines, institution types and geographical regions. While we would particularly welcome applications from groups who are currently under-represented at senior levels in the R&I community, all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

This appointment will fill the role of an existing member whose tenure is coming to an end.

We welcome applications from across higher education, innovation and research organisations, industry and commerce, policy or civil society.

Individuals are invited to apply for one position only.

Please note that UKRI employees are not eligible to apply.

What you’ll be doing

Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure

Digital research infrastructure underpins the research and innovation ecosystem and is a critical system for researchers, policymakers and innovators. It enables them to solve problems, and to analyse and understand complex topics on any subject.

UKRI’s vision is for a coherent state-of-the-art national digital research infrastructure that will seamlessly connect researchers, policymakers and innovators to the computers, data, tools, techniques and skills that underpin the most ambitious and creative research.

A key part in achieving this vision was the formation of the AGD in 2023, comprising eight independent members. Advisory group members directly impact the digital research infrastructure ecosystem in the UK by:

• advising the UKRI Executive Committee on prioritising options for investment in digital research infrastructure, by assessing options that have been prepared by the Digital Research Infrastructure Committee
• advising the digital research infrastructure programme leadership on the prioritisation of activities across and within the thematic areas articulated in the UKRI digital research infrastructure strategy
• advising the digital research infrastructure programme leadership on progress towards the delivery of the programme’s objectives by recommending refinements to the portfolio
• advising UKRI on the UK’s digital research infrastructure landscape to support the digital research infrastructure programme leadership
• assisting UKRI with identifying, quantifying and mitigating various kinds of risk
• acting as a ‘rapid response’ group if advice is needed outside of the routine cycle of meetings

The AGD ensure a balanced portfolio of projects across five digital research infrastructure strategic themes. The five themes are:

• data infrastructure
• large-scale computing
• secure services and tools for sensitive data
• skills and career pathways
• foundational tools, techniques and practices

The successful applicant will be appointed from October 2024, and invited to attend an induction session in advance of the autumn AGD meeting.

Infrastructure Advisory Committee

The overall purpose of the IAC is to provide advice to UKRI’s Executive Committee and UKRI Board on the prioritisation of projects for the pan-UKRI R&I infrastructure portfolio funded through the Infrastructure Fund. This includes the long-term pipeline of infrastructure and associated scoping, design and pilot work.

The IAC is tasked with recommending an Infrastructure Fund portfolio comprised of projects that are timebound investments enabling a step-change in R&I capability (including new infrastructure, major upgrades, repurposing, transformative developments or decommissioning), and that are demonstrably aligned to UKRI’s strategy and councils’ delivery plans.

The committee also:

• seeks and maintains assurance that the Infrastructure Fund portfolio is managed and implemented optimally through the provision of periodic challenge and refinement recommendations
• supports UKRI in maintaining and developing its understanding of the R&I infrastructure landscape, to include provision of insight on the evolution of the landscape, supporting work to ensure the R&I Infrastructure Roadmap and pipeline is refreshed, and identification of strategic gaps and emerging opportunities both in the UK and internationally
• provides expert advice on the infrastructure landscape in support of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s (DSIT) wider activities, or regarding project proposals which have not progressed through UKRI’s internal processes, subject to agreement with DSIT and UKRI Executive Committee

Members are expected to act independently, fairly and in the best interests of the UKRI Infrastructure Fund, its portfolio, and the R&I communities served by the fund. The members are not required to act as representatives of their own organisation, research area or industrial sector, and are expected to adhere to the principles of public life.

The committee formally meets twice per calendar year (two or three days in total). In addition, it is expected that IAC members commit between three and five days per year to evaluate infrastructure proposals prior to each of the formal meetings. All meetings are in person. Urgent business may be handled via correspondence outside scheduled meetings.

Members will typically serve for up to three years in the first instance, with the possibility of a single extension to their term.

This is not a salaried position, although reasonable T&S expenses will be paid in accordance with the UKRI travel and subsistence policy.

The successful applicant will be appointed from October 2024, and invited to attend an induction session in advance of the autumn IAC meeting.

How to apply

To apply, candidates should submit:

• a CV (limited to two A4 pages) containing details of their professional qualifications, research, work experience, or other relevant experience to date
• a statement of interest in the role, or a short covering letter (limited to two pages)

Candidates should submit both documents, and ask any questions, to the relevant secretariat:

• Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure, email AGD Secretariat agd@ukri.org
• Infrastructure Advisory Committee, email IAC Secretariat infrastructure@ukri.org

Individuals can apply for one position only.

How we’ll assess your application

Once the deadline has passed, a selection panel will review all applications and agree which applicants have been selected for interview.

Successful shortlisted applicants will be informed of the outcome by email, and virtual interviews will take place on 16 and 23 September. A representative for the UKRI Infrastructure Team will attend to take the official record of the interview.

At the final appointment stages, if applicants are equally qualified on merit, the selection panel will seek to achieve a balanced membership in terms of, for example, diversity, expertise and experience.

Further information

What is infrastructure?

UKRI uses an internationally recognised definition of infrastructure:

Facilities, resources and services that are used by the research and innovation communities to conduct research and foster innovation in their fields. They can include major research equipment (or sets of instruments), knowledge-based resources (such as collections, archives and data), or digital infrastructures (such as data and computing systems and communication networks, as well as any other tools that are essential to achieve excellence in research and innovation).

What is the UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure programme?

The UKRI Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) Programme was initiated in 2020. UKRI’s constituent councils are working together to create a federated, interoperable, interdisciplinary portfolio of DRI to serve the UK’s researchers and innovators.

UKRI’s ambition is to build a national DRI to provide the capabilities, skills and culture for the UK to benefit from the digital revolution. Our vision is to deliver a coherent state-of-the-art national DRI that will seamlessly connect UK researchers and innovators to the computers, data, tools, techniques and skills that underpin the most ambitious and creative research.

We aim to achieve our vision by evolving existing infrastructures to support new communities of practice and, subject to funding, by investing in new capabilities to enable researchers to turn data into knowledge.

What is the UKRI Infrastructure Fund?

The Infrastructure Fund is a pan-UKRI budget that supports step-changes in research and innovation infrastructure capability. This includes:

• the establishment of new capability
• significant changes to existing capability (for example major upgrades)
• repurposing
• transformative developments
• decommissioning

Funding is timebound and encompasses the complete disciplinary spectrum, from fundamental research to innovation-focused activities. Investments can be located across the UK’s regions and nations, or form part of major international collaborations.

As well as proposals that are ready for full implementation, the Infrastructure Fund also supports the development of future infrastructures by funding pilot, design and scoping studies.

How do projects apply for funding via the Infrastructure Fund?

The Infrastructure Fund is not an open funding opportunity for proposals. UKRI’s councils and the Facilities Strategic Advisory Group identify, prioritise and submit projects to the fund using existing engagement mechanisms with R&I communities.

Who currently sits on the Infrastructure Advisory Committee (IAC)?

Committee members are appointed from higher education, innovation and research organisations, industry and commerce, policymaking or civil society.

The IAC is chaired by the UKRI Champion for Infrastructure, Professor Mark Thomson. It is composed of:

• a nominee from each council
• the chair of the UKRI Facilities Strategic Advisory Group
• three to five externally recruited members
• the UKRI Infrastructure Fund Programme Director
• observers from UKRI Finance and the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology

View the full list of existing IAC membership on the UKRI website.

Who currently sits on the Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure (AGD)?

Committee members are appointed from higher education, innovation and research organisations, industry and commerce, policymaking or civil society.

The AGD is co-chaired by the UKRI Champion for Infrastructure, Professor Mark Thomson and EPSRC Executive Director of Research Base, Jane Nicholson. It is composed of:

• a nominee from each council
• the UKRI Infrastructure Portfolio Director
• the UKRI DRI Programme Director
• observers from UKRI Finance and the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology

View the full list of existing AGD membership on the UKRI website.

How do the IAC and Advisory Group for Digital Research Infrastructure (AGD) complement one another?

The IAC is UKRI’s independent advisory committee providing recommendations to UKRI’s Executive Committee and Board on the pipeline and investment prioritisation of timebound infrastructure investments enabling a step-change in R&I capability (including new infrastructure, major upgrades, repurposing, transformative developments or decommissioning) through the UKRI Infrastructure Fund. The AGD provides an equivalent function for prioritisation of Digital Research Infrastructure investments. DRI investments tend to be under-pinning, cross-cutting and broader than a specific discipline. However, it is understood that the route for some concepts is not always clearcut. In these instances, there is precedent for co-investment from both funding programmes. Both committees are administered by the UKRI Infrastructure team and there are ongoing opportunities for collaboration and interaction.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

UKRI is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all. Applications from women, those with a disability and members of minority ethnic groups, who are currently under-represented at senior levels in the research and innovation community, are therefore especially encouraged.

At UKRI we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to flourish and succeed. This should be within an ethical and trusted working environment that enables them to do so. The working environment should be attractive and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.

We also value diversity of thought and experience and are committed to creating systems that value difference so that everyone can feel welcomed, included and nurtured throughout their time with us.

Find more information about how we support equality, diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

At UKRI we are proud to be users of the disability confident scheme. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for any of our vacancies. There is a section on the application form to indicate if you would like to be considered under this scheme.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

In accordance with the GDPR 2016/679 (EU), the personal information provided as part of the AGD and IAC application will specifically be used for the purpose of administering this opportunity. It will be aggregated anonymised data will be used for the purposes of monitoring our advisory and decision-making bodies.

Last updated: 17 June 2024