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 of which has a duration of 2 years (with the option of extension for an extra year), starting in August 2023.
The IDEA task force was founded in 2022 and aims to address systemic racism, sexism, colonialism and other 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 career (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 IDEA agenda to the SMBE council, the yearly selection of initiatives that work towards these goals and can receive up to 25,000 USD from SMBE, organizing the IDEA symposium at the yearly SMBE meeting, and conducting demographic surveys to better understand the diversity present within the society, that will enable the society to better serve their 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), 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 https://www.smbe.org/smbe/MEMBERSHIP.aspx 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