Get Involved in SLAS!

Make a Mark in the Life Sciences Community

Give back to the life sciences discovery and technology community by volunteering your time and expertise to our dynamic, member-driven organization. SLAS provides opportunities to get involved at many different levels:

Speak at an upcoming SLAS conference. If you’re interested in sharing your research with the SLAS community at one of our future conferences, complete the SLAS Speaker Bank Submission Form. Nominations for speakers are also welcome.

Councils

Premier members are welcomed to explore a potential appointment to one of SLAS’s three councils.
Estimated Time Commitment: 20-30 hours/year

Knowledge Content and Delivery

The Knowledge Content and Delivery Council is charged with advancing the Society’s exempt purpose and strategic plan via the development and/or delivery of scientific and educational content to support the SLAS Community on a global scale.

2026 Members

Josh Kangas, Ph.D. (Carnegie Mellon University) – Chair
Bob Campbell, Ph.D. (Grove Biopharma, Inc.)
Olivier Casamitjana, M.B.A.(Evotec)
Ed Chow, Ph.D. (KYAN Technologies)
Ramisa Fariha, Ph.D. (Brown University)
Kamran Honarnejad, Ph.D. (Evotec)
Claire Hur, M.S., Ph.D.(Johns Hopkins University) – Ad Hoc member
Julio Martin, Ph.D.(A4cell Nanodevices)
Jennifer Smith, Ph.D. (Harvard Medical School)

Read KCDC Charter

Membership and Engagement

The Membership and Engagement Council is charged with advancing the Society’s exempt purpose and strategic plan by identifying trends and needs in the SLAS Community and among potential customers. The MEC will direct respective committees to respond to support the SLAS Community on a global scale.

2026 Members

Winston Chiu (KU Leven)
Pim De Haan (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Kenda Evans (Agilent)
Steve Soccorso-McCoy (Invert Bio)

Read MEC Charter

Strategic Relations

The SRC is charged with advancing the Society’s exempt purpose and strategic plan by identifying synergies among the committees that reports to it that would address trends or meet the needs of the SLAS Community and among potential customers. The SRC will direct respective committees to respond to support the SLAS Community on a global scale.

2026 Members

Tijmen Harmen Booij (Ombion CPBT)
Kalpesh Gupta (Moderna)
Ira Hoffman (HighRes Bio)
Felix Lenk (SmartLab Solutions)
Rishi Mahajan (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals)
Mike Ouren (Brooks Automation)

Volunteer

Committees

Premier members are invited to contribute their expertise to one of SLAS’s eight committees. Click the committee name to read the charter. Estimated Time Commitment: 10-15 hours/year

Volunteer

Community

Discover many ways to use your skills, interests and periods of availability for SLAS that do not require participation on a committee or council:

Accessibility in the Lab Initiative
If you have an interest in broadening the understanding of the importance of accessibility in the lab, we want to talk to you! SLAS is looking for experts to help build a series of products, from podcasts to panels, to ensure the SLAS audience understands the types of barriers that may be encountered in the laboratory and how to alleviate them. Examples include visual, motor/mobility, auditory, mental health, learning/cognitive or other accessibility challenges and solutions.
Estimated Time Commitment: varies depending on activity

Awards Judging Panels
SLAS hosts a variety of awards that require the review of a volunteer panel of judges. Some judging is done remotely, some is done onsite at the conferences. All of it is important and rewarding, and you get to see the best of the best!
Estimated Time Commitment: 5-10 hours/year depending on award

SLAS Journal Manuscript Reviewers
The SLAS Editorial Boards are always looking for willing, able and reliable volunteers with scientific expertise to critically assess manuscript submissions. To be considered, register as a user for the appropriate journal(s), being sure to complete your personal profile with company name and keywords (areas of expertise). Please be sure to OPT-IN.
Estimated Time Commitment: 10-15 hours/year

SLAS Discovery SLAS Technology
Short Course Instruction
SLAS considers proposals in Q3 of each year for new short courses to be presented at the SLAS conferences and throughout the year through our new program that brings the learning to an individual institution. Share your knowledge and passion – submit a proposal to design a new course or teach a course!
Estimated Time Commitment: 10-20 hours/year (including prep and teaching)

Submit a Proposal
SLAS Mentor Match Program
Mentor Match – a part of SLAS CONNECTED networking – enables one-on-one career mentoring sessions all year round. Sign up to become a mentor or mentee to advance your career and get advice and guidance in a variety of areas. Share your expertise; meet and help SLAS members at all stages of their careers.
Estimated Time Commitment: 10-12 hours/year

Mentor Match

Volunteer

Volunteer

Why our Members Volunteer

Dennis Plenker, PhD

Research & Development Innovation Leader
SLAS: SLAS2027 Cellular Technologies Track Chair

“Volunteering for SLAS is one of the best ways to become part of the community rather than just attend it. Whether you're shaping a conference program, chairing a session, or helping run a special interest group, you'll work alongside people who bring every kind of expertise to the table. And the community works both ways: the time you give comes back through a network that helps you solve your own challenges faster.”

Steve Trim

Steve Trim

Chief Scientific Officer, Ventera Bio
SLAS: Chair, Automation in Agri-Tech TIG

"Volunteering with SLAS on the membership committee and the Automation and Screening in Agri-Tech TIG has strengthened my professional reputation through the association with SLAS. It has also improved my network of people relevant to my work, and this has had a direct positive impact on my work and our company. Being part of the SLAS family also improves my conference experience by greatly improving visibility and conversation opportunities.”