Conference Volunteer

Giving Back to SACNAS

Each year hundreds of members support our student community by participating in various reviewing and mentoring opportunities. Giving back time and feedback to our community empowers the future generation of STEM and helps uplift the SACNAS mission of fostering success for our members.

Before the Conference

Review Student Applications

Applications reviewers are professionals with a bachelor’s degree or higher who volunteer to review 2022 SACNAS student applications online PRIOR to the conference.

Note: This is a pre-conference opportunity in the Spring and Summer. Volunteers are  not eligible for discounted or waived conference registration. Students are not eligible to participate as reviewers. 

As a research presentation application reviewer you will receive: 

• Approximately 15 abstracts in your discipline to review 
• Guidelines to score assigned abstracts 

• Each abstract takes approximately 20 minutes to review. Total time = Approximately 5 hours between May 4 to May 15 (Spring Period).

Questions: Email presentations@sacnas.org 

As a travel scholarship application reviewer you will receive:: 

• Approximately 20 scholarship applications to review 
• Guidelines to score assigned applications 

• Each application takes approximately 20 minutes to review. Total time = Approximately 6 hours betweenMay 4 to May 15 (Spring Period).

Questions: Email travelscholarships@sacnas.org

During the Conference

Mentor Judge

For many students getting direct mentorship can make all the difference in validating and motivating them to persist in their STEM journey. By serving as a mentor judge, volunteers provide constructive feedback and motivation to student research presenters, including many first-time presenters and first-generation college students.
In addition to giving back to student SACNISTAs, this is a great opportunity to get exposed to new research in your field, as well as networking and recruiting talented students. 

Time commitment:  Approximately 2 hours  

Taking advantage of the virtual setting, you will have the flexibility to work with your assigned student(s) to select a presentation time that works with both of your schedules. Presentation times should be scheduled before or during the conference (October 18 to 27, 2021). Mentors will need to submit their scores no later than October 27, 2021 at 11:59pm PT. 

Eligibility: 

• Motivated to provide positive and constructive feedback to student presenters 
• Must be a STEM professional with a
  Master’s degree or PhD 
• Currently in a Master’s or PhD program? You will be assigned to undergraduate poster presentations 
• Previous experience in judging/mentoring similar events preferred but not required! 
• Must be a registered attendee for the 2021 SACNAS conference 

Mentor judges are eligible for 50% off registration for the 2021 SACNAS NDiSTEM Conference and 50% off registration for the 2022 SACNAS NDiSTEM Conference in Puerto Rico for mentor judges that sign up for year-round mentoring.*

Terms: Begins August 16 and ends September 30, 2021. Applies to postdocs and professionals only.

* Joining year-round mentoring means you will make yourself available for three hours of mentor training, and at least four 45-minute structured, digital sessions using the SACNAS platform.

Check back for 2022 Sign-Up Form!

Requesting funding from your institution? Let them know you’ll be serving as a mentor! 

Any other questions? Contact our team.