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

Paula Fogel

Lead Automation Engineer, Natera
SLAS: Student and Early Career Committee

“Serving on the Student and Early Career Committee has been incredibly rewarding, especially as I navigate my own early career. Through my involvement with SLAS I’ve gained valuable networking and mentorship opportunities, as well as exposure to cutting-edge technology. I hope that volunteering with the engagement programs will help others discover the benefits SLAS offers just as I have.”

Ross Lagoy, PhD

Senior Project Manager, Harvard Medical School
SLAS: Student and Early Career Committee

"Volunteering with SLAS has allowed me to connect with people from around the world and learn from different perspectives. It has also given me the opportunity to collaborate on exciting programs and new initiatives within the lab automation and life science industries.”

Chang Liu, PhD

Research Scientist, SCIEX
SLAS: SLAS Technology Journal Editor

“Participating in journal peer review enables me to support the integrity and advancement of scientific publishing while staying engaged with the latest innovations in the field. These experiences have been professionally rewarding, deepening my commitment as a dedicated volunteer to the SLAS community and reinforcing the value of giving back through service.”

Elizabeth Sharlow , PhD

CEO and Co-Founder, KeViRx, Inc.
SLAS: SLAS Discovery Editor

“Volunteering with the SLAS Journals has really honed how I think about quality and impactful science and the importance of a strong peer review process. I also get to interact with incredibly thoughtful and talented colleagues. Being part of this community has been more than just professionally rewarding—it’s something I genuinely care about

Fernando Ramon-Olayo, PhD

Director, In Vitro Pharmacology at Servier
SLAS: Screening Application & Diagnostics Chair EU 2026

“Volunteering for SLAS is a truly enriching experience, a unique opportunity to contribute one’s vision and simultaneously evolving it through interactions with the rest of organizers during preparation of the conference and with the wider community during the event.”