Call for nominations to STFC's Science Board, Committees and Peer Review Panels

A number of vacancies have arisen for outstanding individuals to become members of STFC's Committees and Panels. The vacancies have arisen, or will be arising, due to the normal rotation of membership on:

• Science Board;
• The Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics Science Committee (PPAN);
• The Physical and Life Sciences Science Committee (PALS);
• The Projects Peer Review Panel (PPRP);
• The Particle Physics Grants Panel (PPGP);
• The CERN Fellowship Panel;
• The Science in Society Advisory Panel (SiS);
• The Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC).

The closing date for these posts is Friday 27th March 2009.

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

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Science Board, PPAN and PALS Committees

Science Board, the Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics Science Committee (PPAN) and the Physical and Life Sciences Science Committee (PALS) provide scientific advice to the Council and, in the latter case, overseeing the Council's user facilities.

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.

Particle Physics Grants Panel

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

Science in Society (SiS) Advisory Panel

The Science in Society (SiS) Advisory Panel advises STFC on Science in Society strategy, policy, and programme balance, and in addition new ideas and methodologies for public engagement with STFC science & technology are welcome.

In addition, there are occasional vacancies in the smaller SiS fund-giving groups:

• Small Awards Judges' Group;
• Large Awards Judges' Group; and
• SiS Fellowships Selection Panel.

Anyone interested in nominating themselves or another to these groups is welcome to get in touch with Robin Clegg on an informal basis.

Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC)

The Education, Training and Careers Committee (ETCC) considers and reviews aspects of education and training relevant to the community within STFC's remit, including activities relating to women in science, engineering and technology and the careers of young postdoctoral researchers. The committee will evaluate and review the programme resulting from its recommendations to ensure the continuing quality of the programme.

Additional information

We expect to appoint the following new members due to the normal rotation of membership:-

• 4 to Science Board
• 5 each to PPAN and PALS
• 8 to PPRP
• 2 to each PPGP (theory) and PPGP (experimental)
• 2 to SiS
• 4 to ETCC

Appointments for Science Board, PPAN and PALS will be made initially for a period of one year, with the possibility of reappointment. For all other committees, members will be appointed for two years with the exception of PPGP and ETCC 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. Nominees should have a strong scientific reputation. See How do we appoint our committee members.

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. In particular we would welcome nominations from those with a strong background in biology, engineering, particle physics and astronomy and project management. Nominations from industry and STFC scientists are also welcome.

STFC will seek 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 nominations of appropriate experts based outside the UK.

If you wish to nominate yourself or a colleague: nominations should be a maximum of 1 page in length and should set out the nominee's area(s) of science expertise and current activity, career track record and committee/policy experience. For the Science in Society Advisory Panel any special interests in outreach or public engagement should also be included. Please ensure that the nominee is aware of and agrees to nomination.

Please send your nomination(s) to Dawn Weston at Polaris House.

The closing date is 27th March 2009.

If you require any further information, please contact Victoria Wright.