Become a public committee member

If you are looking to become a public committee member, you can find out everything you need to know here. 

NIHR committees help decide which research to prioritise and which research projects to fund. Our committees help to ensure that research is high quality, robust, and represents good value for money. It also needs to be relevant to the needs of our diverse society.

Committees usually consist of around 20-30 members who have a broad range of perspectives, knowledge, skills and experience. They include NHS clinicians and practitioners, academics, local government decision makers, and members of the public. The public members will bring the perspective of patients, service users, carers and anyone affected by a research topic.

Interested in getting involved?

Who can apply to become a public committee member?

We are looking for members of the public who have a broad interest in, and knowledge of, health, social care and/or improving public health and addressing health inequalities.

You do not need to have a scientific background to help shape research. We are looking for people who can bring their own experiences to improve the research we wish to fund.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive culture by having committees and panels that are made up of diverse skills and experiences. We want everyone to realise their full potential and be empowered to make a positive contribution. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and communities.

Membership is open to people from across the United Kingdom.

“The NIHR funds health and social care research. But for someone like me with lived experience of a range of health issues, NIHR is an organisation that works to make my, and many other people’s lives healthier and longer. It’s an organisation that not only funds research but creates a space for co-operation, learning, and innovation based on what matters to patients and their loved ones.”
Hayley Hall, NIHR public committee member

What experience and skills do you need?

Your application will be assessed against the criteria listed below.

You will need to:

  • consider the health needs and priorities of people from different backgrounds and assess how well research proposals meet these needs
  • clearly communicate and share your feedback and thoughts constructively with a group of people
  • confidently and constructively participate in meetings and group discussions
  • listen to and respect different opinions
  • understand, review and summarise information from long documents
  • meet deadlines
  • be computer literate and have access to an IT device

Ideally you will have:

  • experience as a member of a committee or group, such as a student or neighbourhood committee, youth council, book club etc.
  • knowledge and/or experience of patient and public involvement in health and social care services research. For example, reviewing an application, working with researchers, being part of a research study etc.

What does the role involve?

We will send you research proposals and ask for your comments on areas such as:

  • the importance and relevance of the research
  • whether the research is inclusive of a diverse population
  • improvements that the researcher could make

Every research proposal comes with a summary of the research written in plain English, to help you understand and assess it.

You will be expected to:

  • prepare for committee meetings by reviewing research proposals and noting down your comments
  • attend committee meetings and take part in discussions
  • present your comments on research proposals and help the committee decide which ones should be funded and/or prioritised
  • provide feedback on documents between meetings

How much time is involved?

As a public committee member it is important that you are available for committee meetings. Some committees meet up to 4 times per year. All committee members will be given an annual schedule of the meetings and pre-meeting work in good time. Meetings usually last for 1 to 2 full day(s) and are held on weekdays. Committee meetings can take place online or in person.

The workload varies between committees. All committees require a number of hours of preparation to review paperwork in the lead up to each meeting. For new members, the preparation time for your first meeting may take a little longer.

Committee membership is initially for 3 years, with a possibility of extending for a further 2 years.

Reward and recognition

Joining a committee as a member of the public is very rewarding. It is a great opportunity to:

  • influence the research we fund, how research is conducted, and how it impacts on diverse communities
  • develop your knowledge on health and social care research, connecting you to more opportunities to get further involved in research
  • develop skills in public speaking, assessing and providing constructive feedback, and collaborative working
  • access relevant training, for example how to review a research funded application
  • network and build relationships with a wide range of people
“Contributing to the NIHR provides public contributors with the opportunity to participate and help influence research from the early days of a researcher’s career to the most advanced level of research, helping to ensure that the outcome of such research is public oriented and developed with the public.”
Sue Prior, NIHR public committee member

A common question is ‘do committee members get paid?’. As a public committee member you will be offered payment for your involvement in a committee. The amount will depend on the type and volume of work involved. This will always be clarified ahead of a meeting. You do not have to accept payment if you do not wish to.

You can also claim reasonable expenses in connection with your attendance at committee meetings. For example, money towards travel, food and drink, accommodation, childcare, carer costs, personal assistant costs, postage and printing costs. On request, our staff members can book travel for you directly so that you do not have to pay these costs in advance.

In person committee meetings always include refreshments throughout the day, and lunch.

Learning, development and support

We understand the importance of continuous learning and development, and will support you throughout your time with us.

When you first join a committee you will have a detailed induction programme. We will also share helpful resources with you, such as:

You may not be expected to do anything at your very first committee meeting. You may be able to join as an observer. This will give you an opportunity to meet other committee members and see the group at work before actively contributing to it.

New members may also have a ‘buddy’. A ‘buddy’ is another member of the committee who has volunteered to take on this role. They are there to give you some additional, informal support (usually by phone or email) for your first few meetings.

Get in touch

If you would like more information about our committees, or you are unsure whether you are eligible to apply, please email us at publicrecruitment@nihr.ac.uk  

Ready to apply?

See our committee vacancies for details about a role and who we are looking for. Once you have found a role, you can apply online.