Photo credit: Brendan Smith/North Pacific Research Board
The deadline for receipt of nomination materials is Friday, August, July 14, 2026.
The mission of the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB) is to develop a comprehensive science program that will further understanding of the North Pacific, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean ecosystems, inform effective management of fisheries, and help to sustain and enhance marine resources.
The Science Panel advises the Board in shaping its scientific program, including science planning, identification of research priorities, evaluation of scientific information relevant to the Board’s mission, and review of proposals. For more information, please refer to: https://nprb.org/nprb-leadership.
Desired qualifications for the open seats on the Science Panel include expertise in one or more of the following categories:
- Biological oceanography or biogeochemistry;
- Physiology;
- Marine fish and/or marine invertebrate ecology;
- Quantitative ecology, stock assessment, and fisheries management; and/or
- Resource economics.
Strong candidates will demonstrate active engagement in science and research, applied expertise, knowledge of pressing fisheries management issues, research needs, and priorities of state and/or federal managers. Individuals with broad expertise who are comfortable reviewing a wide range of proposals are desired as is direct experience with a co-production of knowledge approach to research. Members are selected for their expertise, broad perspective, experience, and leadership in areas important to NPRB’s research program. Panel members are asked to set aside time twice a year for meetings (late March and late August) and to devote significant time to reviewing proposed research in the two weeks in advance of those meetings.
The Science Panel meets twice each year for 2-3 days (March and August), in Anchorage or Seattle. Panel members serve four-year terms, with a maximum of two consecutive terms. While no pay is provided, the Board covers all expenses for travel, food, and lodging for non-federal panel members to attend panel meetings, and to attend the Alaska Marine Science Symposium, held in January each year in Anchorage.
The Board will consider the following attributes in making appointments to the Science Panel:
- Candidates should be committed to full and active participation in all meetings in their term;
- Candidates should be prepared to complete and submit proposal reviews during the month preceding the Science Panel meetings;
- Candidates should have a demonstrated ability to be objective in considering research activities and science planning.
NPRB has a robust conflict of interest policy and candidates may be recused from reviewing proposals in their primary areas of expertise. Candidates should be willing and able to provide rigorous review of proposals in all the NPRB funding areas.
The deadline for receipt of nomination materials is Friday, August 14, 2026. Nominations and self-nominations may be submitted by email to Matthew.Baker@nprb.org.
Nominations/Self-nominations must include:
- A brief resume of not more than two pages;
- Full contact information including phone number, physical and email address; and
- Up to three letters of reference.
Nominees will be considered and appointed by the Board at its September 2026 meeting. The new Science Panel members will begin their four-year term in September 2026. The first Science Panel meeting for this position will be held March 30-April 1, 2027, in Seattle.
Please note:
In-person attendance and active participation at panel meetings are critical to NPRB’s success. Nominees and self‐nominees are asked to take a close look at their calendars to see if the typical Science Panel meeting schedule is compatible with theirs. The Science Panel typically meets the last week of March and the third or fourth week of August every year.
Conflict of Interest Policy. The Board and its Panels follow conflict of interest procedures (available here) during the proposal selection process, requiring recusals and disclosures on individual proposals. Nominees and self‐nominees are strongly encouraged to review this policy.
For more information, contact NPRB Science Director, Matthew.Baker@nprb.org or NPRB Executive Director, Lynn.Palensky@nprb.org. Please also visit the website at www.nprb.org for more information about the Board and its activities.