REF2021: Call for UoA4 sub-panel members

Closing Date

15 Nov 2017

Salary

Unremunerated

Background

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the system for assessing research in UK higher education institutions. It was first conducted in 2014, replacing the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The REF assesses the quality and impact of UK HEIs’ research in all disciplines. 

The next REF is due to take place in 2021.  It will be a process of expert review, assessing three distinct elements for each submission: outputs, impact, and the environment.  Institutions will be invited to make submissions to 34 units of assessment (UOAs). Submissions will be assessed by expert sub-panels, with one sub-panel for each UOA. 

Read more about REF2021 panels and sub-panels online.

Becoming a sub-panel member

The BNA has been invited to nominate individuals to be sub-panel members, with UoA4: Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience being the most relevant Unit of Assessment. 

If you are interested in being nominated by the BNA as a sub-panel members, please follow the steps below.  Please note that the BNA is only able to nominate members; if you are not already a member, you can join online. 

Application procedure

Please read what is expected of sub-panel members in the document: Roles and recruitment of the expert panels, especially noting Annex A, 'Provisional timetable and workload for panels'.  Please also see "A guide for research users taking part in the REF. 

Once you have read above, please submit the following documents to office@bna.org.uk no later than 4pm on November 15th.

1. A first draft of a completed HEFCE nomination form. The BNA nomination committee* will decide if the content forms the basis of a sound nomination; if yes, the forms of these successful candidates may then be fine-tuned by the nomination committee before submission.
2. Supporting statement which explains how the candidate commands the confidence of the neuroscience community and wider stakeholders (1000 words or fewer). This should contain:
   1. Explanation of how past experience on CV fits with REF sub-panel role applied for.
   2. Evidence of national/international contributions to research evaluation
   3. Areas of research expertise (main research interests, methods, key journals)
   4. Confirmation by candidate that they have read all of the guidelines published on the HEFCE website, understand the provisional REF timetable and will accept the workload commitments if nomination is successful
3. Brief CV (no more than 10 A4 pages)
4. Optional: Up to two brief pieces of supporting evidence (e.g. letters of recommendation from chairs of research evaluation panels). These will be seen solely by the BNA nomination committee and will not be included in any nominations.

The nomination committee will be composed of members of the BNA Council and Committee, hence representing a range of interests and institutions across neuroscience.  As a nominating organisation, the BNA has to follow guidelines including consideration of the diversity of the pool of nominees, and the BNA would encourage nominees from groups under-represented in REF2014 panels.

Further Information

If you have any questions please send to office@bna.org.uk.