ERC Basics: how to choose an evaluation panel?

Submitted ERC proposals are reviewed by independent evaluation panels. Panel members are selected by the ERC’s Scientific Council for their expertise and standing in their research fields. For the individual calls, i.e. Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants, there are 28 defined peer review panels distributed within three scientific domains – physical sciences and engineering, life sciences and social sciences. The panel members per panel vary between categories, alternate between years and may undergo changes within the alternating years. ERC applicants are required to choose an evaluation panel to review their proposals. For some, the panel choice may seem fairly straightforward. In other cases, the panel selection is more complex. This is particularly relevant for multidisciplinary projects or for projects whose scientific topic is not covered in the panel’s keywords list. In these cases, choosing the ‘right’ evaluation panel can be critical. So, why is the panel choice important? what should you consider when choosing your evaluation panel? And when should you consider opting for a secondary panel?