Shaping the future of research: York experts selected for REF 2029 panels
Posted on Monday 8 September 2025
Panel and sub-panel members assess the impact and quality of research submissions from UK higher education institutions. The results are used to inform how around £2 billion of funding is allocated in the future.
Professor Sarah Thompson, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research, says “I am proud to see so many of our leading research staff represented on expert panels to contribute to the development of the framework for how research will be assessed. This is a testament to their breadth of knowledge across their subject, their application of interdisciplinary working and thorough understanding of the wider use and benefits of research to society”
Notably, Megan McLoughlin, Head of Research Culture & Researcher Development at York, has been chosen as sub-panel member in recognition of her strategic contribution to research culture. She is also a Co-Investigator on the Valuing Voices for Equitable and Responsible Research project, funded by the Wellcome Trust.
Professor Thompson says “I am particularly delighted to see Megan McLoughlin’s inclusion as a Sub-panel member, as an emerging leader in the field of research culture. This shows York’s collective spirit and our holistic approach to transforming research culture, extending across professional support as well as academia.
She added “It is also wonderful to see Professor Nicky Milner and Professor Karen Rowlingson with Sub-Panel Deputy Chair and Chair positions respectively, demonstrating a high level leadership of their disciplinary communities.”
The newly appointed University of York panel and sub-panel members are:
- Professor Kathryn Arnold
Sub-panel member (assessment phase), Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences - Linda Ko Ferrigno
Panel Secretary, Biological Sciences and Engineering - Megan McLoughlin
Sub-panel member Music, Drama, Dance, Performing Arts, Film and Screen Studies - Professor Nicky Milner
Sub-panel Deputy Chair, Archaeology - Professor Daniel Muzio
Sub-panel member (assessment phase), Business and Management Studies - Professor Sarah Shair-Rosenfield
Sub-panel member (assessment phase), Politics - Professor Luigi Siciliani
Sub-panel member (assessment phase), Economics and Econometrics - Professor Karen Rowlingson
Sub-panel Chair; Main panel member (MP C), Social Work and Social Policy - Professor Dani Ungar
Sub-panel member (assessment phase), Biological Sciences - Professor Richard Wilson
Computer Science and Informatics, Sub-panel member (assessment phase)
Submissions to the REF are made in 34 units of assessment. There are four main panels and 34 sub-panels.
The panel announcement followed an announcement from the four UK higher education funding bodies confirming a pause in the criteria setting and publication of final guidance for REF 2029 for a short period, announced by the UK Science Minister Lord Vallance at the Universities UK conference last week.