Infrastructure Advisory Committee: member vacancies

• Closing date: 9 January 2026
• Number of positions: Two
• Length of term: Three years with the possibility of an extension, beginning March 2026
• Time commitment: 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: Travel and subsistence expenses will be paid for in-person meetings
• Interview date: Late February and early March 2026
• Outcomes communicated: March 2026

We are looking for two individuals to join our Infrastructure Advisory Committee (IAC). The IAC provides advice to UKRI’s Executive Committee on the prioritisation of projects for the cross-UKRI research and innovation infrastructure portfolio funded through the Infrastructure Fund.

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

You are not required to act as a representative of your own organisation, research area, or industrial sector.

We expect you to adhere to the Seven Principles of Public Life.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for one senior-level expert member for each of the following areas of expertise:

• extensive direct industry experience and understanding in the life sciences, biotechnology or biopharmaceutical sectors
• extensive ‘deep tech’ industry experience in research and development intensive sectors (for example, artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology or quantum technology) developing innovative and transformative technologies to address major challenges

You should also have:

• the vision to support and empower the IAC and UKRI’s decision-making bodies when evaluating proposals for collaborative activities and ensuring they are undertaken safely and securely, particularly for research and innovation infrastructure investments
• experience of research and innovation infrastructure planning or delivery, or in strategic planning of large investment portfolios and programmes over the long term
• the ability to work strategically and collegiately, while providing constructive challenge, to reach collective decisions across UKRI’s broad remit and spectrum of disciplines

We are committed to creating a well-balanced and diverse committee, representative of different disciplines, institution types and geographical regions.

We particularly welcome applications from groups who are currently under-represented at senior levels in the research and innovation community.

One appointment will fill the role of an existing member whose tenure has come to an end, and one appointment will be for a new role.

UKRI employees are not eligible to apply.

What you’ll be doing

About IAC’s role

The IAC provides advice to UKRI’s Executive Committee on the prioritisation of projects for the cross-UKRI research and innovation infrastructure portfolio funded through the Infrastructure Fund.

This includes the long-term pipeline of infrastructure and associated scoping, design and pilot work.

The IAC recommends an Infrastructure Fund portfolio comprised of projects that are timebound investments enabling a step-change in research and innovation capability, including:

• new infrastructure
• major upgrades
• repurposing
• transformative developments
• decommissioning

The projects 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 research and innovation infrastructure landscape to include provision of insight on the evolution of the landscape
• supports work to ensure the R&I Infrastructure Roadmap and pipeline is refreshed, and that strategic gaps and emerging opportunities are identified 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 applications which have not progressed through UKRI’s internal processes

Members

You are expected to act independently, fairly and in the best interests of the UKRI Infrastructure Fund, its portfolio, and the research and innovation communities served by the fund.

You are not required to act as a representative of your own organisation, research area, or industrial sector.

We expect you to adhere to the Seven Principles of Public Life.

Meetings

The committee meets in-person twice per calendar year (two or three days in total).

In addition, we expect members to commit between three and five days per year to evaluate infrastructure applications prior to each in-person meeting.

Urgent business may be handled via correspondence outside scheduled meetings.

Duration

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

Remuneration

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

Appointment

If successful, you will be appointed from March 2026.

We hope successful applicants will be in post to attend the next IAC meeting, currently 16 March 2026.

How to apply

To apply, you should submit:

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

You should submit both documents, and ask any questions, to the IAC secretariat by email: infrastructure@ukri.org

You can only apply for one position.

How we’ll assess your application

After the closing date, a selection panel will review your application and agree if you have been selected for interview.

If you are shortlisted, you will be informed of the outcome by email.

Virtual interviews will take place in late February and early March 2026.

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)
• digital infrastructures (such as data and computing systems and communication networks)
• any other tools that are essential to achieve excellence in research and innovation

Find out about the Infrastructure Fund, including ongoing projects.

Find out about the IAC.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

UKRI is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all.

We especially encourage applications from:

• women
• those with a disability
• members of minority ethnic groups, who are currently under-represented at senior levels in the research and innovation community.

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 out how we support equality, diversity and inclusion in the workforce.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679, the personal information provided as part of the application will specifically be used for the purpose of administering this opportunity.

Aggregated anonymised data will be used for the purposes of monitoring our advisory and decision-making bodies.

Last updated: 30 October 2025