STFC is committed to the UKRI principles of peer review throughout our assessment and decision-making processes.
These UKRI principles have been developed in order to protect the integrity of UKRI and reduce the risk of impropriety or any perception of impropriety in the conduct of peer review business and allocation of funds. The principles apply to all individuals involved in any way in the peer review of applications for funding.
Individual panel members, like others who serve the public, are expected to follow the seven principles of public life set out by the Committee on Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Committee).
Reviewers are required to make a statement in every completed report to declare whether they have any conflicts of interest. Failure to make this declaration will invalidate the report.
Names of reviewers are not disclosed to applicants and neither are those of the lead introducer on the grant. There are exceptions to the latter for grant rounds that operate clarification meetings, which are led by the lead introducer, or where the lead introducer also acts as a mentor to the applicant.
Applicants for research grants should note that canvassing of members of the peer review panel will lead to disqualification.