STFC Advisory panel for public engagement: member vacancies

Closing date: 27 April 2026
Number of positions: Up to five
Length of term: Three years
Time commitment: The panel meets twice a year, usually in May or June (in-person, two days including overnight stay at UK location) and October (online, usually within a single day).
Remuneration: £170 per day
Outcomes communicated date: August 2026

The Advisory Panel for Public Engagement (APPE) provides advice to the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive and public engagement teams on strategy, policies and programme balance.

Members have the opportunity to influence STFC’s strategy, policies and funding priorities for public engagement (PE).

Who we're looking for

We welcome applications from individuals across all career stages, subject to demonstration of the proportionate required expertise.

Successful applicants will demonstrate expertise in the following APPE selection criteria:

wide-ranging knowledge of the public engagement and STEM inspiration landscape in the UK (essential) and beyond
knowledge of the STFC public engagement strategy and wider STFC strategies and priorities

Applicants will also need to meet one of the following criteria:

expertise in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of a range of public engagement programmes
expertise in supporting public engagement delivery in academic or public-facing contexts, public and private sector experience welcome
expertise in the planning, delivery, participation and evaluation of a range of community or youth engagement programmes

We are particularly keen to receive applications from:

teachers and educators
public engagement active STFC-funded researchers
individuals working in industry, science centres, policy bodies, professional societies
non-STFC research laboratories and institutes
different sectors which place engagement with people and communities at the heart of their practice

What you'll be doing

Members will guide STFC to develop the societal impact of our investments and best support our research and innovation communities.

Members will also be able to expand their professional networks and explore a wide range of challenges related to engagement with STFC science and engineering.

Our handbook for members of STFC’s advisory bodies will help you to understand our expectations of a panel member. The handbook also includes useful information on other topics, such as:

equality and diversity
conflicts of interest
confidentiality
our policy on travel, subsistence, and remunerated meeting fees

How to apply

Read the application guidance documents, which include:

a preview of the application form
questions and answers from a webinar we held in 2021
testimonies from members of STFC panels, boards and committees

Apply using the online form on the UKRI Engagement Hub.

How we'll assess your application

Applications will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the ‘Who we’re looking for’ section and the application form.

Further information

For further information contact Jenni Chambers:

Email: jenni.chambers@stfc.ukri.org

We are committed to the principles of fair and transparent decision-making, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). In addition to UKRI principles on EDI, STFC continues to develop a range of measures and objectives around EDI. We have undertaken an equality, diversity and inclusion impact assessment for this opportunity, see application guidance documents.

Appointments to the advisory panel are made on merit. However, we are keen to maintain diversity in its membership. Applications are especially welcome from:

women
those with a disability
members of minority ethnic groups

We will use diversity of membership as part of our selection criteria where we have two or more equally qualified or appointable candidates.

The panel operates via facilitated group working and problem-solving, so enthusiasm for or experience of such methods is required. Some working group activity is expected outside of full APPE meetings.

Last updated: 16 April 2026