The four UK higher education funding bodies, working with the REF Main Panel Chairs and Advisory Panel members, have appointed chairs and deputy chairs for the 34 expert sub-panels that will assess research in REF 2029.
The panel chairs and deputy chairs will lead their units of assessment through the criteria setting phase, beginning later this year, and on through to the final assessment.
They are now working to appoint their full panels, ensuring that membership reflects the full range of required expertise. These appointments will be announced in summer 2025.
Deputy chairs have been confirmed for the majority of sub-panels. Appointments for sub-panels 8 (Chemistry), 11 (Computer Science and Informatics), 28 (History) and 31 (Theology and Religious Studies) are still being finalised and will be announced shortly.
REF Director Rebecca Fairbairn said: “I’m delighted to welcome this outstanding group to lead the REF 2029 sub-panels. Their deep expertise and broad perspectives will be central to building an assessment process that is fair, rigorous, and trusted by the research community. We have been working in partnership with the sector throughout this process, and I’m grateful to everyone who expressed interest – your engagement is what strengthens the credibility and value of the REF across our research landscape.”
The list of appointed chairs and deputy chairs is listed below, and you can also find them via the Panels page on the REF website.
REF 2029 sub-panel chairs and deputy chairs
Main Panel A: Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
Sub-panel 1: Clinical Medicine
Chair
Deputy chair
Peter Openshaw
Diana Eccles
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
University of Southampton
Sub-panel 2: Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care
Chair
Deputy Chair
Samuel Seidu
Olivia Wu
University of Leicester
University of Glasgow
Sub-panel 3: Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy
Chair
Deputy Chair
Jo Rycroft-Malone
Carmel Hughes
University of Lancaster
Queen’s University Belfast
Sub-panel 4: Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
Chair
Deputy Chair
Heidi Johansen-Berg
Richard Crisp
University of Oxford
Durham University
Sub-panel 5: Biological Sciences
Chair
Deputy Chair
Martin Cann
Ben Sheldon
Durham University
University of Oxford
Sub-panel 6: Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences
Chair
Deputy Chair
James Wood
Carol Wagstaff
University of Cambridge
University of Reading
Main Panel B – Physical Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics
Sub-panel 7: Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences
Chair
Deputy Chair
James Scourse
Zoe Davies
University of Exeter
The University of Kent
Sub-panel 8: Chemistry
Chair
Deputy Chair
Emma Raven
TBC
University of Bristol
Sub-panel 9: Physics
Chair
Deputy Chair
Deputy Chair
Tara Shears
Glen McHale
Simon Port
University of Liverpool
University of Edinburgh
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Sub-panel 10: Mathematical Sciences
Chair
Deputy Chair
John Greenlees
Guy Nason
The University of Warwick
Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine
Sub-panel 11: Computer Science and Informatics
Chair
Deputy Chair
Qiang Shen
TBC
Aberystwyth University / Prifysgol Aberystwyth
Sub-panel 12: Engineering
Chair
Deputy Chair
Deputy Chair
P. John Clarkson
Paul Conway
Sarah Sharples
University of Cambridge
Loughborough University
University of Nottingham
Main Panel C – Social Sciences
Sub-panel 13: Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
Chair
Deputy Chair
Nick Gallent
Darren Robinson
University College London
The University of Sheffield
Sub-panel 14: Geography and Environmental Studies
Chair
Deputy Chair
Cathy McIlwaine
Phil Ashworth
King’s College London
University of Exeter
Sub-panel 15: Archaeology
Chair
Deputy Chair
Kate Welham
Nicola Milner
Bournemouth University
University of York
Sub-panel 16: Economics and Econometrics
Chair
Deputy Chair
Sarah Smith
Brit Grosskopf
University of Bristol
University of Exeter
Sub-panel 17: Business and Management Studies
Chair
Deputy Chair
Rick Delbridge
Sally Dibb
Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd
Coventry University
Sub-panel 18: Law
Chair
Deputy Chair
Michael Dougan
Rosemary Hunter
University of Liverpool
Loughborough University
Sub-panel 19: Politics and International Studies
Chair
Deputy Chair
Matthew Flinders
Ailsa Henderson
The University of Sheffield
University of Edinburgh
Sub-panel 20: Social Work and Social Policy
Chair
Deputy Chair
Karen Rowlingson
Nasar Meer
University of York
University of Glasgow
Sub-panel 21: Sociology
Chair
Deputy Chair
Claire Alexander
Lucinda Platt
University of Manchester
London School of Economics and Political Science
Sub-panel 22: Anthropology and Development Studies
Chair
Deputy Chair
Paul Jackson
Tobias Kelly
University of Birmingham
University of Edinburgh
Sub-panel 23: Education
Chair
Deputy Chair
Dominic Wyse
Chris Taylor
University College London
Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd
Sub-panel 24: Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism
Chair
Deputy Chair
Sheldon Hanton
Glyn Howatson
Cardiff Metropolitan University
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
Main Panel D – Arts and Humanities
Sub-panel 25: Area Studies
Chair
Deputy Chair
Susan Hodgett
Rajinder Dudrah
University of East Anglia
Birmingham City University
Sub-panel 26: Modern Languages and Linguistics
Chair
Deputy Chair
Jane Stuart-Smith
Susan Harrow
University of Glasgow
University of Bristol
Sub-panel 27: English Language and Literature
Chair
Deputy Chair
Jennifer Richards
Susan Fitzmaurice
University of Cambridge
The University of Sheffield
Sub-panel 28: History
Chair
Deputy Chair
Jonathan Morris
TBC
University of Hertfordshire
Sub-panel 29: Classics
Chair
Deputy Chair
Katherine Harloe
Catherine Steel
University of London – School of Advanced Study
University of Glasgow
Sub-panel 30: Philosophy
Chair
Deputy Chair
Bill Child
Beth Lord
University of Oxford
University of Aberdeen
Sub-panel 31: Theology and Religious Studies
Chair
Deputy Chair
Gordon Lynch
TBC
University of Edinburgh
Sub-panel 32: Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
Chair
Deputy Chair
Anne Boddington
Craig Richardson
Professor Emerita, Kingston University
Loughborough University
Sub-panel 33: Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies
Chair
Deputy Chair
Robert Adlington
Katharine Dorney
Royal College of Music
The University of Manchester
Sub-panel 34: Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management
Chair
Deputy Chair
Karen Boyle
John Downey
University of Strathclyde
Loughborough University