Posted September 4, 2026 by Cheyenne Rowe
Since 2022, the Office of Research and Innovation has been using a faculty peer review process to evaluate proposals submitted to several of its internal funding programs. The goal is to provide substantive, consistent feedback for all who submit.
The process is modelled on the peer review approaches used by federal grant-making agencies, primarily the National Institutes of Health’s model, with components of review processes used by other agencies like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation. All proposals receive two levels of review: 1) independent assessment by three assigned reviewers who each prepare written feedback; and 2) panel discussion among five to seven faculty reviewers who meet to discuss and evaluate applications submitted to a funding program.
Participating in the peer review process has many benefits for reviewers, and feedback from those who have served as reviewers for R&I’s internal funding programs speaks to this:
“Serving on the panel was my first experience as a reviewer. Going through the process with UNL colleagues made it much less intimidating and very rewarding, and it increased my confidence to serve on future federal review panels.”
– Research Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology
“As an early-career faculty member, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to participate in the review process firsthand. It provided valuable insight into how proposals are evaluated and what distinguishes highly competitive applications.”
– Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
“I find peer review intellectually energizing. It exposes me to new ideas and methods and is deeply rewarding as a way to give back to the scientific community that has supported my own work.”
– Associate Professor, Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders
“Nothing helps prepare someone to be a successful grant writer better than being a grant reviewer. Reading a range of proposals and listening to the conversations they inspire offers incredible insight on how to effectively communicate in this genre.”
– Professor, University Libraries
Currently, peer review is used for R&I’s Research and Innovation Grants program, the Collaboration Grants program (Development and Catalyst types), and the Book Fellowship and Manuscript Workshop program within R&I’s internal funding portfolio.
Faculty from all academic ranks are encouraged to volunteer, and reviewers are needed from every discipline at the university. To learn more about the peer review process or to volunteer to serve as a reviewer, visit the peer reviewer volunteer webpage.
Contact Matthew Dwyer, senior research development program coordinator, via email, or phone at 402-472-1661, with questions.
