The Astronomy Grants Panel’s role is to:
- assess and make recommendations to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive on all research grant applications in astronomy, including space science and solar-terrestrial physics covering theory, exploitation and basic technology research
- take account as appropriate of the conclusions of specialist peer review panels, as convened by the Executive, to advise on strategic priorities for science and technology research, together with research requests which are judged (on the basis of cost or propriety) to warrant such separate, in-depth assessment, such as those with a common theme
- make recommendations to the Science Board and to the Science Programme Advisory Committee (SPAC) of the UK Space Agency on research awards. With Science Board and SPAC endorsement, make final recommendations on awards to the STFC Executive
- carry out such other tasks associated with peer review as the Executive might require
Organisational structure
Members from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025
Astronomy Small Awards Panel
- Professor M Sullivan (Chair), University of Southampton
- Professor M Swinbank (Deputy Chair), Durham University
Astronomy observation
- Dr R Tojeiro (Chair), University of St Andrews
- Dr R Bowler, University of Manchester
- Dr H Cegla, The University of Warwick
- Dr M Nicholl, Queen’s University Belfast
- Dr N Noel, University of Surrey
- Dr N Peretto, Cardiff University
Technology expertise
- Dr R Harris, Durham University
- Dr M Tecza, University of Oxford
- Dr H Wang, RAL Space – STFC
Astronomy theory
- Dr D Mulryne (Chair), Queen Mary University of London
- Dr A Barker, University of Leeds
- Dr R Izzard, University of Surrey
- Dr Z Leinhardt, University of Bristol
- Professor R Smith, University of Sussex
Solar studies and solar-terrestrial physics
- Professor R Fear (Chair), University of Southampton
- Dr A-M Broomhall, University of Warwick
- Professor A Hillier, University of Exeter
- Dr N Jeffrey, Northumbria University
Planetary studies
- Dr L Hallis (Chair), University of Glasgow
- Dr N Achilleos, University College London
- Dr M Balme, The Open University
- Dr B Sanchez-Cano, University of Leicester
Astronomy Large Awards Panel: 2025 full applications
- Professor M Swinbank (Chair), Durham University
- Dr R Tojeiro, University of St Andrews (Deputy Chair)
- Professor N Achilleos, University College London
- Professor T Baker, University of Portsmouth
- Professor R Fear, University of Southampton
- Dr V Graber, Royal Holloway, University of London
- Dr Z Leinhardt, University of Bristol
- Professor I McCarthy, Liverpool John Moores University
- Dr D Mulryne, Queen Mary, University of London
- Professor D Steeghs, University of Warwick
- Dr A Triaud, University of Birmingham
Astronomy Large Awards Sift Panel: 2025 outline applications
- Professor T Rogers (Chair), Newcastle University
- Dr F Antonini, Cardiff University
- Dr K Coppin, University of Hertfordshire
- Professor N Bowles, University of Oxford
- Professor J Chluba, University of Manchester
- Professor S Hoenig, University of Southampton
- Dr T Howson, Abertay University
- Professor S Matthews, University College London
- Dr J Nichols, University of Leicester
- Dr K O’Brien, Durham University
- Dr E Tsaprazi, Imperial College London
Last updated: 31 March 2025