Chair elections for selected MCAA Chapters and Working Groups
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Deadline for applications extended!
The deadline for submitting candidacies for the Chair position was postponed to 28 July. Please check the new schedule for the elections:
Deadline for submitting candidacies: 28 July 2024
Notification of acceptance for eligible candidates: 30 July 2024
Chair election period: 1–4 August 2024
Communication of results: until 8 August 2024
Hand-over period between Chairs: 9–31 August 2024
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The MCAA is seeking candidates to present for the Chair elections of selected Chapters and Working Groups until 28 July! Chair elections will take place between 1 and 4 August 2024.
Chapters and Working Groups are the backbone of the MCAA, providing a supportive community environment with networking opportunities, professional development, policy influence, and national, regional and global visibility for the MCAA and its members.
Chairs are responsible for planning, managing, and leading their Chapter or Working Group’s activities and budget. We are seeking to appoint 18 new Chapter and 4 new Working Group Chairs in this call. The specific requirements and responsibilities of the role are listed below in this article, as are the Chapters and Working Groups for which a new Chair is needed.
This is a unique opportunity for eligible members who are passionate about our mission and willing to dedicate their time and enthusiasm to leading our Chapters and Working Groups. If you are ready to take on a new challenge in a fulfilling leadership role, we encourage you to submit your application at the link at the end of this article and contribute to our collective success.
Chapters with upcoming elections:
Africa Chapter
Andean-Caribbean Chapter
Argentina Chapter
Brazil Chapter
Bulgaria Chapter
Chile Chapter
China Chapter
Croatia Chapter
Czechia Chapter
Germany Chapter
Hungary Chapter
Ireland Chapter
Italy Chapter
Mexico Chapter
North America Chapter
Spain-Portugal Chapter
Sweden Chapter
Switzerland Chapter
Turkey Chapter
Working Groups with upcoming elections:
Career Development Working Group
Genders, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Working Group
Policy Working Group
Research Management Working Group
Why should you apply?
- You will gain new skills, experience, knowledge and confidence on a variety of topics, including leadership, management, budgeting and forecasting, internal and external communication, and event management.
- You will have the opportunity to engage and interact with peers and like-minded professionals in your region or area of interest beyond the boundaries of your current workplace.
- You can widen your professional network and make lifelong friendships from across the association.
- You get to collaborate on a variety of topics and events across the MCAA community.
- You will participate in the MCAA Annual Conference and General Assembly and other meetings organised by the MCAA that the Chairs are invited to attend.
At the end of this article, you can read more about the role's benefits from testimonials by former Chairs.
What we require from you:
- To be eligible to run for Chapter Chair, you need to regularly reside in the country or region of the Chapter.
- Candidates running for a Chapter Chair position need to have been members of their Chapter for at least six months before the date of publication of the election call or at least twelve months before in the case of Working Groups.
What are the Chairs’ responsibilities?
- Prepare a plan of activities for the Chapter or Working Group.
- Appoint a Chapter/Working Group Board, including Vice-Chair and other positions, as per Chapter regulations.
- Keep the Chapter/Working Group Board and members engaged and updated on MCAA issues.
- Organise events and communicate with local members.
- Manage the Chapter/Working Group budget.
- Communicate regularly with the MCAA Board and Operational Team, and comply with their requests.
- Submit activity reports and attend periodical meetings.
- Represent the Chapter in its geographical area.
- Organise at least two meetings per year.
The mandate is for two years, starting on 1 September 2024 and finishing on 31 August 2026, with a possibility of one re-election. This means that current Chairs finishing their second consecutive mandate cannot run again. Exceptions to this rule are only possible with the permission of the MCAA Executive Committee.
In accordance with the MCAA statutes, the Chapter/Working Group Chair is an ex-officio (i.e., non-voting) member of the MCAA Board. Each year, they are invited to attend the MCAA Board meeting held during the MCAA Annual Conference and General Assembly, and other potential Board meetingsThey will be invited to join the MCAA Board meeting held during the MCAA Annual Conference and General Assembly each year.
The schedule for the elections is the following:
Deadline for submitting candidacies: 28 July 2024
Notification of acceptance for eligible candidates: 30 July 2024
Chair election period: 1–4 August 2024
Communication of results: until 8 August 2024
Hand-over period between Chairs: 9–31 August 2024
Present your candidacy to become a Chair here.
In case you have any questions, please feel free to reach us at the email management@mariecuriealumni.eu.
We are looking forward to receiving your application. Don’t pass on this opportunity to make a meaningful impact within our community!
Testimonials from former Chairs
“Being a chair of the Bridging Science and Business (BSB) Working Group allowed me to actually make a difference and give something back to the community. The “Researchers Meet Innovators” events and the series of BSB webinars served as a platform for our members, including myself, to voice their opinions, meet life-long friends and grow professionally.”
—Pavlo Bazilinskyy, former Chair of the Bridging Science and Business Working Group
“Being the chair of the Brazil Chapter offered me the opportunity to interact with many different professionals, building new friendships, shaping my career and allowing me to support the strengthening of cooperation between the European and Latin American research communities at various levels.”
—Leonardo Dallagnol, former Chair of the Brazil Chapter
“Serving as the Chair of the Southeast Asian Chapter gave me the opportunity to forge meaningful connections and foster collaborations not only within Southeast Asia but also with partners from other regions. Working closely with science diplomats, EU delegations, and ministries of science, we were able to promote excellence and inclusivity in scientific endeavours. This role placed a big emphasis on the importance of international cooperation and the critical role science plays in bridging cultural and geographical divides. It was an absolute pleasure to interact with fellow Marie Curie alumni and build bridges with the rest of the world through research and innovation.”
—Jenny Elmaco, former Chair of the Southeast Asian Chapter