We are looking for members of the public to join our NIHR committees. As a public committee member you will need to have a broad interest in and knowledge of health, social care and/or actions to improve public health and address health inequalities.
You don’t need to have a scientific background to help shape research. We are looking for members of the public from all backgrounds who are able to use their own experiences to improve the research we wish to fund.
This 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
About the role
We will send you research proposals and ask for your comments on the importance and relevance of the research. We will also ask you to consider whether the research is inclusive and addresses the needs of our diverse society, and would like your suggestions for any improvements that the researcher could make. Every proposal contains a summary of the research that is written in plain English, to help understanding.
You will be expected to:
- attend committee meetings, which can take place in person or online
- take part in discussions by presenting your comments on the research proposals
- help the committee decide which proposals should be funded and/or prioritised
About our committees
Depending on the committee, there can be up to four meetings per year and each meeting can be 1 to 2 full day(s). Some meetings are in person and others are online. They are held on a week day and will require some preparation work.
Typically, committee membership is initially 3 years, with the option of extending for a further 2 years.
Who we are looking for
You must be able to:
- consider the health needs and priorities of people from different backgrounds, and assess how well each research proposal meets 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
- have access to an IT device and be computer literate
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, such as reviewing an application, working with researchers, being part of a research study, etc.
We will consider applications which best match your knowledge and experience with the skills and expertise the committee needs.
How to apply
Membership is open to people from across the United Kingdom.
Before you apply, please read our public committee member page and information pack page to find out more about what is involved in being on a committee.
To apply, download our application form, complete the fields, and submit your application to us by emailing it to publicrecruitment@nihr.ac.uk
The deadline for submitting an application is midnight on Sunday 28 April, 2024.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
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 will work with you to make reasonable adjustments to remove any barriers during the application process. If you have any access needs or require any support throughout the application process, please let us know. If appointed, we will also work with you to identify adjustments to carry out the role. We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and communities.
After you have applied you will receive an email from our Equality and Diversity Recording System, asking you to complete an anonymous equality monitoring form. We monitor all applicants’ data carefully in line with our privacy policy.
Accessibility
See our public committee member information pack page for further details about reasonable adjustments. Please contact our Patient and Public Involvement team by emailing publicrecruitment@nihr.ac.uk if you:
- would like a copy of any of these documents in another format or have an enquiry about accessibility
- would like support with your application
- have any questions about this opportunity