REF 2029 Panel Members – Shaping the Future of UK Research
The panel members for the criteria-setting phase of REF 2029 (Research Excellence Framework) were announced in September this year.
This diverse and accomplished group of experts will oversee the assessment of UK research across all 34 Units of Assessment (UoAs). They will play a central role in shaping the REF, ensuring rigorous and trusted evaluations that support the higher education sector and highlight the excellence of UK research.
For the first time, panel members were selected through an open application process rather than by nomination, a change aimed at reducing barriers and encouraging a broader, more inclusive range of candidates.
What is REF?
The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the UK’s national system for assessing the quality of research in higher education institutions. It was first carried out in 2014, replacing the previous Research Assessment Exercise. Run by the funding bodies for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the REF evaluates the originality, significance, and rigour of research outputs, as well as the real-world impact of research and the environments that support it.
The results inform the distribution of around £2 billion per year of public research funding, demonstrate the value of public investment in universities, and provide accountability and benchmarking for research performance across the UK’s higher education sector.
The REF aims to:
- Inform the allocation of block-grant research funding to HEIs based on research quality
- Provide accountability for public investment in research and demonstrate its benefits
- Offer insight into the health of research in UK higher education institutions
As part of the recruitment process, applicants were invited to complete an optional survey sharing personal characteristics to help assess and improve panel diversity.
About the REF 2029 Panels
REF is structured around four Main Panels and 34 Sub-panels.
Main Panels set the overall criteria and assessment methods within their disciplines, ensure consistency across sub-panels, and approve final outcomes. They include sub-panel chairs and members with interdisciplinary, international, and applied research expertise.
Sub-panels focus on specific subject areas (Units of Assessment), developing discipline-specific criteria and conducting detailed evaluations based on collective expertise from across the UK research community.
REF 2029 are retaining the REF 2021 UoA structure with four main panels and 34 sub-panels, which are listed below.
Main Panel A: Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Main Panel B: Physical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics
Main Panel C: Social Sciences
Main Panel D: Arts and Humanities
SES Strength Across All Panels
Academics from Science Engineering South (SES) universities have been appointed to key leadership and member roles across all four Main Panels and 34 Sub-panels of REF 2029.
This strong representation reflects the depth and diversity of expertise within SES institutions — helping to shape the future assessment of UK research and championing excellence across the higher education sector.
Main Panel A: Medicine, Health & Life Sciences
A particular area of strength for SES universities, with representation spanning clinical medicine, psychology, neuroscience, biological sciences, and agriculture, veterinary, and food sciences.
Imperial College London: Professor Peter Openshaw, Chair of Clinical Medicine
University of Southampton: Professor Diana Eccles, Deputy Chair of Clinical Medicine
University of Oxford: Professor Heidi Johansen-Berg, Chair of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience; Professor Ben Sheldon, Deputy Chair of Biological Sciences
University of Cambridge: Professor James Wood, Deputy Chair for Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science
In addition, SES universities contribute several sub-panel members in medicine and biomedical sciences.
Main Panel B: Physical Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics & Computer Science
Another strong area of SES representation, with members contributing across engineering, chemistry, and related disciplines.
University of Cambridge: Professor John Clarkson, Chair of Engineering
Imperial College London: Professor Aimee Morgans, Engineering sub-panel member
King’s College London: Professor Barbara Shollock, Engineering sub-panel member
University of Oxford: Professor Chris Grovenor, Engineering sub-panel member
UCL: Professor Katherine Cashell, Engineering sub-panel member
University of Oxford: Professor Charlotte Williams, Deputy Chair for Chemistry
Main Panel C: Social Sciences
SES universities hold significant leadership roles within this panel, with contributions across education, geography, sociology, demography, and related fields.
University of Southampton: Professor Jane Falkingham, Chair of Main Panel C
King’s College London: Professor Cathy McIlwaine, Main Panel member
UCL: Professor Dominic Wyse and Professor Nick Gallent, Main Panel members
Main Panel D: Arts & Humanities
SES universities also feature prominently across arts and humanities disciplines.
University of Cambridge: Professor Jennifer Richards, Deputy Chair for English Language and Literature
University of Oxford: Professor Bill Child, Deputy Chair for Philosophy
Leading Excellence Across the UK
SES representation across every Main Panel and Sub-panel highlights the outstanding research capability, diversity, and expertise of our universities – driving innovation, impact, and excellence across the UK research landscape.