Expert review recognises quality of research across Durham University through academic panel appointments

(29 March 2018)

Eleven members of Durham staff have been nominated to form part of a national assessment of research quality, having been selected to join Sub-Panels ahead of the next review taking place in 2021.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the process of expert review looking at the quality of research within the Higher Education sector, which is undertaken by the four UK Higher Education funding bodies. Thirty four expert and largely subject specific Sub-Panels are overseen by four main Panels. Sub-Panels members comprise senior academics, international members and research users.

Candidates for the Sub-Panels were nominated by subject associations and other organisations with a specific interest in research. Academics have been chosen from all three University Faculties and across a breadth of Departments. Those selected from Durham University are:

• Professor Julian (Joe) Elliott from the School of Education
• Professor Clare McGlynn from Durham Law School
• Professor Emma Murphy from the School of Government and International Affairs
• Professor Joe Painter from the Department of Geography
• Professor Charlotte Roberts from the Department of Archaeology
• Professor Jo Setchell from the Department of Anthropology
• Professor Stefan Przyborski from the Department of Biosciences
• Professor George Boys-Stones from the Department of Classics and Ancient History
• Professor Richard Crisp, Head of Department in the Department of Psychology
• Professor Karen Kilby, Department of Theology and Religion
• Val Wooff, Head of Research Excellence Framework in the Research and Innovation Services, recruited as Panel Secretariat, Adviser to Main Panel B

Professor Stuart Corbridge, Vice-Chancellor, commented: “The many appointments to REF 2021 Sub-Panels are testimony to the breadth of high quality research across Durham University and the esteem in which our academics are held. We congratulate all those who have been nominated.

REF aims to support a dynamic and internationally competitive UK research sector. As well as informing funding allocations, the REF provides accountability for public investment in research, demonstrates its benefits, and provides important reputational yardsticks and benchmarking information about the research performance of UK universities.

The Sub-Panel members appointed at this stage will help advance the main Panel criteria over the course of 2018. Further academic panel appointments will be made in 2020, ahead of the final review announcement of REF in 2021.

To find out more about REF and how Durham University performed in 2014, please see: https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/showcase/ref/