Unclear REF provisions stand to punish academics who take brief maternity leaves. Researchers should be allowed to submit a reduced number of outputs in line for each period of leave taken

As the consultation deadline for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) draws closer, Dr Anne Haour considers whether current provisions may penalize academics who have had children within the last funding cycle but have been unable to take more than 14 months in maternity leave to care for them. A response from HEFCE is also included at the end of this post.