To fund the best science we need the best peer reviewers to assess the scientific merit of grant applications. Find out why you might want to join the ranks and learn what you can do to get involved.
Peer Review Service: Why Join?
Beyond the prestige associated with service as a peer reviewer, serving on a review committee is a rewarding and enlightening experience that can benefit you in various ways.
Though the honorarium you receive cannot compensate you for your time or for the service you provide the scientific community, remuneration comes in other forms. Read on to understand the benefits.
Apply Your Review Experience to Your Own Application
As a reviewer, you have a treasured opportunity to see pitfalls other applicants step into, without suffering the slings and arrows of a poor review.
You can also learn firsthand what other researchers do to impress reviewers and meet their expectations. For example, you can observe how others present the Significance and Approach sections of the Research Plan, which have the biggest impact on your score.
And, though you must protect the integrity of peer review and avoid conflicts of interest, you can get a glimpse of new research that may stimulate your thoughts and open future opportunities.
You can use this knowledge to write stronger applications. Even if your grantsmanship is exemplary, small improvements learned while being a reviewer can make a difference in whether you get funded or not.
Review From Afar
Most peer review meetings use virtual technology, eliminating the burden of travel. Both NIAID and the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR) use many different technologies and meeting styles, depending on the award mechanisms being reviewed. Common options for participation include:
- Video Assisted Meetings, where you videoconference into your study section meeting using technology such as Zoom. These may be hybrid meetings where some members attend in person while you connect using a secure video link.
- Internet Assisted Meetings, where you log in to a website to enter scores and comments, engage other reviewers through a discussion board, and participate at your convenience through the duration of the review meeting. Your NIH scientific review officer will monitor comments to ensure discussions reach a conclusion.
Invest in Your Career
Think of peer review as an investment: you're giving something now (time, effort, and energy) in return for something more valuable over time (exposure, experience, connections, and a broader view of your field).
Your institution may even give you special recognition for your service.
Reviewers Have Our Thanks
Speaking of recognition, each year we post a list of NIAID reviewers at Thank You to Members of NIAID Peer Review Groups and Advisory Committees and write a newsletter article to highlight our gratitude. These volunteers donated valuable time and effort to make an enormous and irreplaceable contribution to biomedical science.
On the Fence? Talk to a Reviewer About the Experience
If you’re still unsure about volunteering, you can find out more about what it’s like. Use the list of reviewers in the Thank You link above, find a colleague who has already served, and ask.
How to Become a Peer Reviewer
Do you want to serve as a peer reviewer? You may not even need an NIH grant. Read on to learn about several ways to get involved.
Volunteer for an NIAID Peer Review Committee
If you're interested in participating on a special emphasis panel (SEP) at NIAID, email NIAIDPotentialReviewers@mail.nih.gov in the NIAID Scientific Review Program. Send a CV and a very brief summary of your areas of expertise.
SEPs are one-time review panels organized for applications and proposals submitted in response to a wide variety of initiatives. A unique panel of experts is recruited for each review meeting due to the variability of science and expertise needed from initiative to initiative and round to round. Learn more about what is reviewed by the NIAID Scientific Review Program and find contacts for any questions you may have on our Scientific Review Program Key Functions page.
Serve on a Standing Study Section
If you have some review experience or you're an experienced investigator, you may qualify for membership on an NIAID or CSR standing study section.
We have four permanent review committees at NIAID that predominantly review career development and training award applications:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Research Review Committee
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Research Committee
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases B Subcommittee
- Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation Research Committee
The standing study sections at CSR review applications that may be funded by any NIH institute, not just NIAID. For details on eligibility and the nomination process, go to CSR's How Scientists Are Selected to Be Members of a Chartered Review Group.
Become an Early Career Reviewer
If you've established a research career, you can participate in one study section meeting each year even if you've never received NIH funding. Get details at Early Career Reviewer (ECR) Program.
Sign Up for Temporary Service
You may be able to serve occasionally as a non-permanent reviewer.
Peruse CSR Integrated Review Groups and NIAID committees listed in the How to Become a Peer Reviewer section above.
If you find a panel that interests you, contact its scientific review officer to see if there's an opportunity to participate in a review.
Please spread the word about review service and encourage your colleagues to come aboard—we (and NIH) are always looking for new reviewers.
Learn more about being a reviewer at CSR’s Reviewer Recruitment and Office of Extramural Research’s NIH Reviewer Orientation.