The Early Career Scholars Subcommittee

The NAASC Early Career Scholar Subcommittee (ECSS), was founded Fall 2021 to
1) ensure that Early Career Scholars (ECS) have representation in NAASC activities at all stages of activity development & implementation, and 2) to provide a forum where we can collaboratively address issues specific to ECS. ECSS liaises with NAASC via the quarterly NAASC meetings and other working groups.

In addition to the elected NAASC member that serves as committee co-chair, we occasionally invite additional people that have expressed interest in supporting ECS to serve as ‘community members’. We are open to additional interested community members to take part in ECSS activities.

ECSS Priorities (examples, varies by year)

1. Survey the community to gather priorities of ECS in the Arabidopsis Community

2. Develop ECS-supportive activities based on community input

3. Develop ECS connections as Arabidopsis Community membership commences

4. Develop career & professional development events and activities for the next NAASC-sponsored ICAR (this occurs every third year; some years the elected ECS will not be working on this topic)

5. Develop communication mechanisms, e.g., via social media

6. Collaborate with the ISP subcommittee when possible

Early Career Scholar (ECS) members of the ECSS

Starting fall 2022, in order to engage early career scholars in the US, Canada and Mexico to serve in leadership roles, ECSS added early career scholar (ECS) members that are graduate students or postdocs to the annual NAASC election.

The objectives for adding ECS members is to

• engage early career members (graduate students and postdoctoral scholars)

• gain their valuable input into activities relevant to early career priorities,

• provide professional development and networking opportunities.

Reflecting their unique career needs, ECSS members commit to a 1 year term (vs 5 year terms for faculty NAASC members)

ECS members contribute a personal statement of interest to be placed on the ballot

1. Your motivation to serve as an ECS member of NAASC on the ECSS and what you would contribute to ECSS and the Arabidopsis community.

2. Brief description of your work with Arabidopsis.

3. How do you define diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) and what do you do to promote DEIB?

4. Are you willing to dedicate time to participating in supporting ECS in the Arabidopsis community, e.g. via developing activities for: future Arabidopsis conferences, networking, training, career development, and personal and professional support? Which activities are you most interested in?