These opportunities have been compiled by UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit (KEU).

Take a look at the KEU’s webhub of information and resources for researchers. 

These opportunities and resources have been sent to members of the KEU’s informal network for knowledge mobilisers, for circulation to the research community. Find out more about the network.

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KEU – limited service

During parliamentary prorogation and dissolution the KEU is operating a very limited service. We are supporting internal parliamentary projects and election support activities and unable to provide our usual service to colleagues in the research community.

  • We will not send out regular communications or highlight specific opportunities to engage with parliament.  
  • We have suspended external engagement activities.
  • We are unable to respond to new queries or requests.
  • We are unable to respond through social media.
  • We are unable to advise or provide comment.

We’ll be back in touch regularly after the general election period has concluded. In the meantime do remember we have a wealth of online resources for researchers and knowledge mobilisers to access on our webpages: https://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/research-impact-at-the-uk-parliament/

And do engage with our latest ARI opportunity and the POSTnotes – all are continuing during dissolution.

Cancellation of Parliament for Researchers session

CANCELLED: Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords – 4 June

Due to Parliament’s dissolution in the run-up to the general election, our Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords event with Lord Krebs FRS will no longer be going ahead on 4 June.  

We are very sorry to those who were looking forward to attending, and we hope to be able to reschedule this event in due course. Please look out for updates on any upcoming sessions in a future round-up. In the meantime, you can find the recording, transcript and slides from our previous Parliament for Researchers with the House of Lords event in March on our website.

NEW ARI on Artificial Intelligence

A new Area of Research Interest on Artificial Intelligence – international regulation and policy issues has launched.

The Business and Trade Select Committee and Parliament’s International Affairs and National Security Hub are calling for experts on the international regulatory landscape for Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
AI is likely to have a significant impact on individuals, businesses, and the wider economy, creating opportunities as well as posing risks. The Committee is interested in general regulatory issues around AI such as safety, accountability and liability, as well as a number of specific concerns that may need to be addressed through Government policy and legislation. These include the socio-economic impact of AI on the labour market, employment, productivity and income inequality; the UK security risks posed by AI technology, and the need to reflect these in law including the export control regime; and the impact of hostile use of generative AI on the integrity of UK politics.

Full details about the ARI are available here. The Committee and Hub are interested in hearing from researchers and experts on:

  • International AI regulation, particularly the EU, US and China
  • Policies to address the security and trade implications of AI
  • The socio-economic implications of AI
  • The UK’s international AI partnerships
  • Multilateral AI initiatives and international technical standards

In the ARI there’s also the opportunity for you to tell us about important aspects of AI regulation and policy that we haven’t specifically mentioned above.

Please note: you do not need to be an expert in all the aspects of this ARI call. We welcome contributions from researchers who hold expertise in just one or limited aspects of this call, or who may have a niche perspective. We also welcome researchers from all career stages and backgrounds to register their expertise for this ARI call, including researchers who have never engaged with Parliament previously.

Deadline to respond: The ARI will remain open until 13:00 on Monday 22 July in the first instance.

What are Areas of Research Interest?
Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) list key questions related to policy matters that Select Committees are interesting in hearing from experts on. They help select committees to access research evidence and grow the number of experts they are aware of, including engaging with new or underrepresented voices who previously haven’t participated in parliamentary scrutiny.

ARIs may also be used by parliamentarians and by parliamentary staff in POST, the Parliamentary Libraries and select committee teams to scope and/or inform future work.

What will happen if I respond to this ARI?
When you register for this ARI your contact details, description of expertise and any answers you provide to the key questions are sent directly to the Business and Trade Committee and the International Affairs and National Security Hub. They will also be shared with other parliamentary teams if they need to draw on your expertise in the future.

What about the election?
All responses to the ARI will be gratefully received during the dissolution period. We are unable to thank you for responding or contact you about your research until after the general election takes place. However, we will be in touch once the new parliamentary session opens!

Why should I engage? Responding to an ARI is a great way to get your name known and highlight that you are an expert in a topic. You may then be invited to participate in a range of parliamentary scrutiny activities such as giving evidence, providing a briefing, or engaging in discussions with committee staff, either now or in the future.

More information: Find out more about POST’s areas of research interest. 

POSTnotes – we need your research and expertise! 

Another great way to engage with us over dissolution is to contribute your evidence to a POSTnote.

We particularly want to draw attention to the POSTnote on Personalised medicines: Inherited blood diseases (beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia) to call for more engagement from researchers. To date, we haven’t received enough evidence or submissions.

Please do email: mutebin@parliament.uk if you can contribute evidence or expertise to this POSTnote. Here’s more information on what the POSTnote will cover:

This POSTnote will outline the health burden of blood diseases such as beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia. It will explain key concepts of emerging treatment and examine perspectives regarding patient awareness and access to innovative medicines such as cell and gene therapy.

Inherited blood diseases include anaemias (beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia) and bleeding disorders (Von Willebrand and haemophilia). Advances in personalised therapies, such as gene editing, offer improved treatments and potential cures. In January 2024, the NHS offered personalised blood group genotyping, to improve outcomes from blood transfusions. In November 2023, the MHRA approved an innovative CRISPR gene editing therapy that could offer a cure for thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia. Whether these treatments will be determined to be a cost-effective treatment recommended for use on the NHS is contingent on a current National Institute for Health Care and Excellence (NICE) appraisal.

Please get in touch to contribute to this POSTnote before 31 July 2024. To contribute email: mutebin@parliament.uk.

View the information about this POSTnote online.

Other POSTnotes also accepting contributions:

How to contribute

If you are interested in contributing to an upcoming POSTnote, email the relevant contact listed above to introduce yourself and your research.

  • state which POSTnote you are responding to
  • briefly outline your area of expertise and the research that’s relevant to the POSTnote
  • you may also mention skills, experience and knowledge, if relevant
  • provide a link to your online profile
  • provide open access links to your most relevant published papers and blogs 

A few paragraphs are all that are needed. The POST colleague will be in touch if they need further information.

Why should I engage? POSTnotes are used by Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and UK Parliament staff to navigate complex research. Contributing to a POSTnote is a good way of feeding your expertise into the UK Parliament as part of a trusted, impartial publication. All contributors are acknowledged when the POSTnote is published. On publication, you and your organisation’s communications team will be notified to publicise the POSTnote and your contribution. Therefore your contribution can help raise your profile and promote your research. 

More information: Find out more about contributing to a POSTnote as an expert. For queries about POST or POSTnotes contact POST.

Reminder: Ashok Kumar Fellowship 2024/25

We’re reminding you of this fellowship opportunity which remains open during dissolution.

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), in partnership with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Materials Processing Institute, are offering a three-month Fellowship to engineers who have recently completed a degree at undergraduate Masters level or above in a discipline related to chemical or process engineering, or have equivalent industry experience. There is one funded Fellowship available.

This Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to gain real-world experience of how research evidence is communicated to decision makers. The successful applicant will be based in the UK Parliament, supporting its use of research evidence. Most Fellows assist POST in providing briefing material for parliamentarians on emerging science topics. Work may include:

  • Producing a POSTnote or POSTbrief (briefing documents to help inform the work of MPs and Peers)
  • Assisting a select committee with an inquiry
  • Supporting one of the parliamentary libraries to produce bespoke briefings for parliamentarians
  • Organising a seminar to inform or disseminate research.

Fellows are encouraged to interact closely with people and activities in the two Houses of Parliament, including Select committees, MPs and Peers, All-Party Parliamentary Groups and a range of other parliamentary activities.

The Fellowship can be carried out full-time for three months or part-time over a longer period. The Fellow may be based on the Parliamentary Estate in London, may be working remotely from home, or a combination of the two. We will discuss the hours and location of the Fellowship with the successful applicant. Successful applicants will be expected to start their fellowship between January 2025 and May 2025. The exact start date will be agreed between the applicant, POST, and (if relevant) the applicant’s EngD or PhD supervisor.

For more information or to apply visit the Fellowship page on the POST website

Deadline to apply: 30 June 2024

Why should I engage? POST’s fellowships offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the epicentre of policy-making from the inside. By the end of their time at POST, fellows learn how to write for policy with balance and impartiality. They also develop a unique understanding of Westminster and forge important relationships with key stakeholders, while often delving into a novel and exciting topic of research. Find out more about what a POST fellowship is like and the opportunities it can lead to. 

More information: Find out more about POST fellowships. Watch an interview with a previous POST fellow to learn about her experience. 

Who knew? 

The KEU were pleased to run a round table at the fabulous Universities Policy Engagement Network conference earlier this week (if you don’t know UPEN check out their website here).


You told us that you wished to know which colleagues in your institution had already responded to parliamentary business.

What if there was a simple way that you could check?

There is! 

Search for your university’s name on this committee search tool and it will bring up all written evidence that has been submitted where the researcher has included the name of the institution. It will also find mentions of the university in oral evidence transcripts, Bills, reports and government responses, and other types of publications.

On the POST webpage you can use the general search link (top right – look for the magnifying glass) to check for contributions to POST’s publications.

These search functions will bring back web information but not citations within pdf documents. However, once you’ve identified a colleague has contributed evidence to a select committee inquiry you can click into the pdf report on the committee’s webpages and perform another search within the publication.  

So what?

Researchers can find others within their organisation who are engaging with parliament. It’s always great to link up with colleagues to discuss your experiences and learn from each other.

Knowledge Mobilisers can get a complete picture of everyone within their institution that has submitted evidence. It might be helpful to demonstrate to management the volume (or lack) of engagement and perhaps a useful persuasion tool when you need to discuss extra resource. 

By searching within different date parameters you can even find out if the level of evidence submitted has grown year on year!

Happy searching!