CALL FOR NEW TASK FORCE MEMBERS
Dear SMBE members,
Are you passionate about inclusion, diversity, equity and/or access in science and academia and would like to be a part of the task force to improve IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) within the Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution? We are currently accepting self-nominations for new task force members! We have three open positions in our task force, each lasting 2 years (with the option of an additional year).
The IDEA task force was founded in 2022 and aims to address systemic racism, sexism, colonialism, and other forms of exclusion in the Society of Molecular Biology and Evolution. Current members are based in various regions of the world and find themselves at different stages of their academic careers (from graduate students to tenured faculty). The task force meets virtually every month and discusses strategies to support SMBE in its quest for diversity, inclusion, equity, and access. We aim to increase representation and inclusion in SMBE membership along all diversity axes, as well as collect data and promote/support initiatives to improve DEI issues within the society and within the field of Molecular Biology and Evolution. Some examples of our main responsibilities are: making recommendations for the IDEA agenda to the SMBE council, the yearly selection of initiatives that work towards these goals, organizing the IDEA symposium at the yearly SMBE meeting, and conducting demographic surveys to better understand the diversity present within the society, which will enable the society to better serve its members.
We especially encourage applications from members from underrepresented backgrounds and historically marginalized communities. In addition, we encourage applications from the Global South, Asia, and Oceania.
If you are interested in being a part of the task force and are able to commit to around a full day of work per month, please fill in this application form. To complete the form, you will be required to add your contact details and upload your CV (max 2 pages) and a motivation letter (max 1 page). Nominees should be members of SMBE at the time of the application. Please note that students from underrepresented regions may apply for free membership by contacting SMBE directly. See Membership for more information.
Do reach out to us at smbe.idea@gmail.com if you have any questions. We look forward to your self-nominations!
The SMBE IDEA task force
Local Leadership in Science Funding:
Funding period 2024-2025: Bridging the gap: strengthening the capacity of African researchers in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics
In May 2025, the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE) funded a five-day capacity-building workshop hosted at the University of Parakou in Benin. The workshop aimed to strengthen the skills of African researchers in molecular ecology, bioinformatics, and scientific proposal writing. More than 50 early-career scientists from 10 African countries participated in the hybrid event, attending both in-person and online sessions. The training was delivered by expert instructors based both within Africa and internationally.
The first two days focused on intensive, hands-on molecular biology training led by Dr. Armel Boris Olou and Prof. Mohammad Bahram. Participants gained practical experience in sample handling and preparation, DNA extraction from fungal, plant, and soil samples, PCR amplification, library preparation, and Nanopore sequencing. This hands-on training provided participants with direct exposure to advanced molecular techniques.
On the third day, participants were introduced to SMBE and received targeted training in grant and publication writing. Led by Prof. Nourou Soulemane Yorou, Dr. Armel Boris Olou, and Mr. Hounwanou Basile, the sessions strengthened participants’ understanding of proposal structure, funding mechanisms, and strategies for integrating molecular tools into ecological and conservation initiatives. Attendees reported increased confidence in navigating the grant application process.
The final two days provided a comprehensive introduction to bioinformatics and microbial community data analysis. Led by Dr. Jean Legeay, Prof. Leho Tedersoo, and Dr. Vladimir Mikryukov, participants engaged in metabarcoding and diversity analyses,
generating and interpreting ecological diversity plots from real datasets. Participants with little prior coding experience developed foundational computational skills and confidence in handling molecular data.
Funded through the SMBE IDEA Local Leadership in Science Grant (formerly known as non-parachute science), which provided $10,000 USD in support, the workshop successfully advanced locally led scientific capacity-building. By equipping African researchers with practical laboratory and computational expertise, this initiative strengthened regional leadership in molecular and evolutionary biology and fostered sustainable scientific growth.
