STFC Ernest Rutherford Fellowship panel: member vacancies

• Closing date: 27 April 2026, 11:59pm UK time
• Number of positions: 15
• Length of term: Three years
• Time commitment: Six days for panels
• Remuneration: £170 per day
• Outcomes communicated: September to November 2026

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is inviting applications to the Ernest Rutherford Fellowship Panel.

The Ernest Rutherford Fellowships enable early career researchers with clear leadership potential to establish a strong, independent research programme. They encourage talented researchers in UK universities to remain in the country, and at the same time attract outstanding overseas researchers to the UK.

Up to 10 Ernest Rutherford Fellowships are offered each year which provide five years of funding to outstanding researchers at an early stage of their career.

Who we’re looking for

We welcome applicants from different career stages and diverse backgrounds who can demonstrate the appropriate skills, expertise and experience.

STFC is inviting applications from individuals particularly with the following areas of expertise:

• accelerator physics
• particle astrophysics and cosmology
• astronomy extragalactic
• astronomy near universe
• astronomy near universe exoplanet or solar
• nuclear physics
• particle physics experiment
• particle physics theory

STFC welcomes applicants who can demonstrate expertise in either or both of the following areas of research activity:

• the development of original theoretical and analytical outputs
• the design and building of cutting edge experiments, instrumentation, or research software that fundamentally underpin and advance research in any of the listed STFC core business areas

What you’ll be doing

You will be asked to:

• recommend appropriate expert peer reviewers
• provide assessment and scoring of applications, independent reviews and applicant responses
• attend sift meetings and interview panels

You will be expected to:

• meet the commitments and attendance requirements of the panel
• select reviewers for applications in your field of expertise
• score and assess prior to sift meetings
• attend for one or two days at sift meetings
• prepare candidate feedback following sift meetings
• complete preparation work prior to interviews if required
• work across research disciplines and separate from personal biases
• adhere to UK Research and Innovation and STFC’s equality, diversity and inclusion policy and procedures

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.

The application form will ask for:

• your personal details
• which panel or committee you wish to apply for
• a question for each of the assessment criteria, as outlined in the ‘How we’ll assess your application’ section

If you have any queries or additional needs to enable you to complete the application form, email: fellowships@stfc.ukri.org

How we’ll assess your application

We will make appointments with reference to the assessment criteria.

We will consider factors such as the overall application score, panel expertise requirements, and equality, diversity and inclusion principles.

Assessment criteria

You should demonstrate how you meet the criteria in your application:

• experience of assessing grant applications or peer review
• knowledge of particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN) science areas
• knowledge of the STFC strategy
• skills in participating and balancing views, arguments and interests of other participants
• understanding of the broader early career context and early career trajectory

All applications will be assessed based on STFC panel recruitment guidelines and in consultation with the panel chair.

Further information

Ask a question about this vacancy

Contact Nikki Cholod.

Email: fellowships@stfc.ukri.org

Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)

We are committed to the principles of fair and transparent decision-making, promoting EDI.

In addition to UK Research and Innovation 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 ‘STFC membership call: equality, diversity and inclusion impact assessment’ in the application guidance documents).

Appointments to the advisory panel are made on merit.

However, we are keen to maintain diversity in its membership.

We especially welcome applications from:

• women
• those with a disability
• members of minority ethnic groups

Last updated: 11 March 2026