Membership & Attendance Requirements

Full Membership: The Perinatal Research Society seeks members who are currently engaged in perinatal research. It is anticipated that those individuals will have a faculty appointment and be at least at an assistant professor or associate professor level. It is also anticipated that they will embark on a productive research career, as evidenced by their contributions to peer review journals. Although extramural grant support is not a prerequisite to membership, this form of peer review is considered one more example of an individual's recognition in the academic community as a productive and independent research investigator.

Membership Requirements (Full/Senior Members):

• Members are required to pay US$100 in yearly dues.

• Members are required to attend 2 out of every 4 meetings. An excused absence can be requested by email to the Secretary/Treasurer before the meeting date.

• The age range for new active members is capped at 55 years of age. Those admitted to the Society after attaining the age of 55 years are considered senior members and must pay dues, can vote, but cannot be elected into Council. International members (individuals residing outside of Canada or the United States) are also expected to attend two out of every four meetings.

• Participation in Perinatal Research Society annual meetings is viewed as central to the mission of the Society. Those individuals accepted into membership are expected to commit themselves to attending two out of three meetings in any given three-year period.

Associate Membership: It is anticipated that applicants who apply for Associate Membership will be Senior Fellows or Junior Faculty who may not have independent funding, but demonstrate a commitment to research in reproductive sciences. While support by an individual training award (e.g., mentored award) provides clear evidence of commitment to a research career, it is not required. Submission of an independent research award as the principal investigator that has yet to be funded, plus a track record of publications suggesting a move towards independence, are the most typical positive indicators we seek. Such grant applications and awards could include federal or private (foundation/society) sources, but consideration for Associate Membership would be made on the basis that a clear commitment to obtaining funding and developing independence be demonstrated. Associate members will participate in annual meetings but remain non-voting members of PRS and cannot hold a position on Council or as President/President Elect until achieving Regular Member status. They are, however, encouraged to attend the annual business meeting as a way of becoming more familiar with the society.

Election to Associate Member status will be as for Regular Members, i.e., by nominator and second, with acceptance by Council on the above modified criterion. The number of Associate Members will be limited to 75 with an equal number in each discipline.Associate Membership

Requirements:

• Associate Members will be required to pay yearly dues of $50 (50% of Regular Membership).
  

• Associate members will be required to attend 2 out of 4 meetings similar to Regular Members and are strongly encouraged to use the society to learn and further their early career through interaction with the Council and Regular Members.

• Status as an Associate Member will run for maximum of 5 years, after which it would be expected that an Associate Member be considered for Regular Membership. Alternatively, nomination to Regular Membership status can be done at any time within the 5 years with the support of a Regular Member.

Applying for Membership

The membership application in interactive .pdf format can be downloaded from the PRS main page. In addition to completing the one-page application form, the applicant's curriculum vitae and two letters of support from Society members are required.

Applications should be submitted electronically.  All new member submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Email to: staff@perinatalresearchsociety.org

Ian M. Bird, PhD
Secretary-Treasurer
Perinatal Research Society
University of Wisconsin-Madison
1300 University Ave., Room 1465 Medical Sciences Center
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: 608.263.5838

page updated on 11/17/2011