Call for Applications for Student-Postdoc Advisory Committee

Applications Are Now Open for the VSS Student-Postdoctoral Advisory Committee (SPC)

The Vision Sciences Society (VSS) is seeking applications for two vacancies on its Student-Postdoctoral Advisory Committee (SPC). Successful applicants will join the four continuing members of the current VSS SPC.

Members of the SPC are graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. The SPC works together and with the members of the VSS Board of Directors to make VSS as responsive as possible to the needs of our trainee members and early career researchers. SPC members work as a team, meeting about once per month.

The SPC has designed and led workshops and other conference events dealing with issues of importance to young investigators in the vision sciences. These include transitions to careers, new developments in open science, and inclusivity and accessibility. An SPC member also serves as a member of the VSS committee to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Finally, the SPC serves as an advisory body to the VSS Board of Directors. The Board consults the SPC often, especially when developing conference events or considering new society policies that impact young investigators.  The SPC is currently sharing ideas about how to add new and useful resources to the VSS website. SPC members also meet with VSS Board members at the conference and in virtual meetings during the year.

Service on the SPC is a great way to develop a track record of community service to enhance a curriculum vitae and to develop professional skills such as team-building and project design and management. 

VSS seeks a diverse set of applicants for its two open seats on the SPC, so that this committee can continue to represent young investigators at a variety of career stages, who study a variety of topics and who reside in different regions of the globe.  Graduate students, even early in careers, are especially encouraged to apply.

See https://www.visionsciences.org/spc/ for a list of current SPC members. Open Science Workshop and Accessibility in Vision Science are two examples of recent events organized by the SPC. If you have any questions, please send an email to the current SPC at .

Application Procedure

To apply, email the following materials to by March 27, 2023:

In a single PDF file, labeled YOURLASTNAME_SPC2023, include the following:

  1. A one-page personal statement. This statement should summarize your reasons for wanting to serve on the SPC, any prior experience, or any aspects of your background that you feel is relevant to serving on the SPC
  2. List of previous VSS conferences attended
  3. Statement of intention to attend the VSS conference in 2023 and 2024 as a student/postdoc VSS member
  4. Names and contact information of two individuals who could provide letters of support for the nomination
  5. Current CV, including current affiliation and contact information.

Those who applied for an SPC slot last year are encouraged to resubmit this year if you are still a student or postdoctoral VSS member.

Nominations Accepted Starting: February 14, 2023
Nominations Close: March 27, 2023 Extended
NEW SPC members Announced: April 17, 2023