Guide for Panel Support Scientists

Panel support scientists (PSSs) provide support to panelists before and during the Panel Meeting. A PSS is assigned to each panel. 

Review Phase

Important Dates and Deadlines

During this phase, you will...

Links to relevant resources

Prep Work & General Info

Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 8pm ET:
JWST proposal submission deadline


Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 11am–12:30pm ET:
PSS Orientation 1

Monday, November 9, 2026, 12pm–2pm ET:
Discussion Panelist Orientation

Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 12pm–2pm ET:
External Panelist Orientation


  • Familiarize yourself with the review process, JWST and its instruments, the types of proposals, and other information provided to panelists.

Roles and responsibilities: 

Preliminary Grading

Wednesday, November 11, 2026:
SPD to release proposals and assignments

Wednesday, November 18, 2026:
Deadline to check for and report additional conflicts of interest

Friday, January 8, 2027:
Deadline for preliminary grades





  • Be a point of contact for the panelists.
  • Handle additional conflicts of interest.
  • Send updates and reminders to the panelists.

Report to your SPD Panel Manager, as soon as possible, any proposals flagged by your panelists for violating proposal guidelines (e.g., DAPR, page limits, template changes, etc.). Not doing so in a timely manner (i.e., waiting to report it until after the proposal has been discussed) wastes precious review resources if the proposal ends up being disqualified.

Useful topics from previous phases:

Pre-Meeting

Friday, January 15, 2027:
SPD to release lists of which proposals will be discussed by the panels


Wednesday, January 20, 2027, 11am–TBD ET: 
PSS Orientation 2Thursday, January 21, 2027, 12pm–1pm ET:
Discussion Panelist Q&A

  •  Be a point of contact for the Discussion panelists as they prepare for the Panel Meeting.

Useful topics from previous phases:

Panel Meeting

Monday–Thursday, February 1–4, 2027, 10am–4pm ET:
Panel Meetings for Galactic Panels
(i.e.,  Solar System Astronomy, Exoplanet Atmospheres and Habitability, Exoplanetary Systems and Dynamics, Stars and Stellar Populations, Interstellar Gas and Dust)

Tuesday–Friday, February 2–5, 2027, 10am–4pm ET:
Panel Meetings for Extragalactic Panels
(i.e., Galaxy Evolution and the Nearby Universe, Galaxy Frontiers and the Distant Universe, Super Massive Black Holes and Active Galaxies)


You will only need to attend during the four (4) days of your Panel Meeting.

  • Monitor panel discussions.
  • Make sure that the process goes smoothly.
  • Make sure that grades are entered correctly.
  • Make notes on any technical consults or other issues.
  • Interrupt if necessary to refocus the conversation on the science, not the team.
  • Monitor team expertise discussions.
  • Inform SPD when an expert consult is required or if any problems arise.

Useful topics from previous phases:

Post-Meeting

Wednesday, February 10, 2027:
Deadline for proposal comments for Discussion panelists

Early to mid-March 2027:
STScI releases Cycle 6 Science Program.

  • Make sure all proposals have proposal feedback comments.

Please remember to remove review materials from your computer after the review.

Useful topics from previous phases:


Next: Roles and Responsibilities in the Peer Review Process



Notable updates


Originally published