'Just Ask'

Blogger Prof-like Substance says that serving on a National Science Foundation panel can be as simple as just asking to do so. Prof-like says that when he began his tenure-track position, he phoned a PO at NSF to express interest in serving on a review panel. "In the next round I was asked," he says. "POs spend a lot of time and energy trying to fill out [their] panels, finding the right mix of career stages, gender, academic background … et cetera." Prof-like warns that panel service "is a huge amount of work, so it's not exactly something you just jump on." However, panel service is a great forum for young investigators to gain an insider's view of NSF reviews. "For all of you out there wondering about the process and what the life and times of a panelist are, take advantage of this. It was extremely helpful for me and I have received similar feedback from others who have been early-career people on panels," Prof-like says.