UKRI Policy Fellowships - Panel Member Expression of Interest

Overview

UKRI Policy Fellowships 2026 will fund 50 fellowship positions for researchers to collaborate with UK or devolved government or What Works Network host organisations for 18-months. Fellows will co-design research to inform policy on priority areas and enhance knowledge exchange between policy and academic institutions.  

Sector transition: UKRI policy fellowships 2026 – UKRI

The Policy Fellowships are designed to improve knowledge exchange and facilitate enduring connections between researchers and policy makers across key policy priority areas including, where applicable, the UK Modern Industrial Strategy sectors (IS-8) and government missions. 

Please refer to the Policy fellows – UKRI website for more information. 

UKRI is seeking to recruit potential panel members to evaluate the Policy Fellowship applications and identify the most promising candidates. The panel member’s role is integral to the process to shortlist suitable candidates for interview. As a panel member you are asked to provide brief written assessments and scores for approximately 10 applications between 26 October and 13 November 2026. In person/virtual panel meetings will not be held. Instead, applications will be shortlisted based on the written assessments and scores provided. 

Why your views matter

Our records show that you have either previously expressed an interest in serving on a Policy Fellowships panel or have already participated as a panel member. 

We would be grateful if you could confirm whether you are willing to be considered for panel membership for the 2026 fellowships by completing this survey before the 19 June 2026. We would also like to check whether the information we currently hold regarding your expertise, experience and interests remains up to date so that we can draw upon the most appropriate expertise when forming panels.

Your responses will help us maintain a diverse and appropriately skilled pool of panel members to support the assessment and delivery of the Policy Fellowships 2026 scheme.