Peer-Review ensures proposals received by AREF for research and research training are scrutinised by independent scientific experts who specialise in the areas of science covered in the proposal.

Eligibility criteria in the funding calls are based on our funding strategy and focus, and also reflect our donors’ wishes. Each competition will have its own assessment criteria which will be made available to all applicants.

Our Principles:

• Confidentiality

The assessment process is confidential to ensure that sensitive information provided either in the application or at another stage of the peer review process is protected appropriately.

• Anonymity

Reviewers’ identities are never shared with applicants. Their names do not appear on the review form, so when these are passed back to applicants, anonymity is maintained. As a reviewer you should ensure that you do not inadvertently identify yourself in your review, perhaps by talking about aspects of your own research.

• Integrity

The integrity of the peer review process is vital. This means that any personal interests as a reviewer must never influence the outcome. If you consider that you may have a conflict of interest you must declare it.

• Authoritative

Proposals are assigned as best we can to experts in the same field of research as the applicant. Panels usually have a broader range of expertise than the two or three expert referees selected for a particular proposal.

• Independent

Referees and panel members are independent of the applicant, their work and their institution.

They cannot participate in the review process if they are a relative; colleague; collaborator of the applicant; work in the same institution as the applicant; if they have a financial or other personal interest in the outcome of the review.

Close competitors may also be excluded.

Find out how to join our College of Experts here