2022

MB is expanding our leadership!

ManyBabies projects are centrally coordinated by the Governing Board and the Executive Director (more info here). We are hereby calling for nominations for individuals to join ManyBabies general leadership

1) as a Governing Board (GB) member or

2) in the newly created role of Student Advisor (SA).

Governing Board

(3-year renewable term*)

* renewable for a maximum of two additional terms

ManyBabies (MB) is expanding its Governing Board from seven to nine members, and we are issuing an open call for nominations for the two newly created seats (see current members). Governing Board members are expected to attend monthly 1-hour board meetings, review and edit policy documents, and respond to inquiries from current and prospective Project Leads. They are also expected to contribute to MB efforts regarding long-term strategic planning and funding acquisition.

We note the importance of including perspectives from early career researchers and others who may have more limited disposable time to contribute and less stable employment. Expectations for workload contributions from these members of the Governing Board will take this into account. Note that all students nominated for the Governing Board will also be considered for the Student Advisor role by default in the event they are not elected to the Governing Board (see below for details).

Student Advisor

(1-year term)

Students' participation has been key to the success of ManyBabies to date and we wish to ensure that this perspective is fully considered in decision-making going forward. Therefore, ManyBabies is introducing the role of Student Advisor (SA). Student here is defined as anyone not yet having completed their PhD or a comparable degree (acknowledging that doctoral candidates may not be considered students everywhere).

The primary responsibility of the MB Student Advisor will be to attend monthly 1-hour Governing Board meetings and participate in leadership discussions to ensure the student perspective is represented. As it is a new position, the first SA will help define the scope of the role in collaboration with the Governing Board and Executive Director, and can suggest other ways to enrich the MB community and empower student members.

We welcome student nominees to the Governing Board itself (see above), but our goal in creating the SA position is to acknowledge the particular position of students and provide a lower-commitment, shorter-term way to join the Governing Board. All student nominees for the Governing Board will be considered for this role in the event they are not elected to the Governing Board (unless they choose to opt out). The 1-year term is non-renewable, although SAs might be invited to continue on in another capacity.

Nomination process

Individuals may nominate themselves or others as candidates for the GB and/or SA positions. Those nominated by someone else will be contacted by the Executive Director to determine whether they choose to accept the nomination. We welcome GB nominees of any career level and GB/SA nominees from any region, but we especially encourage nominees from groups currently under- or not represented in MB general leadership (e.g., located outside of US/Canada, non-white, non-tenured). Previous MB experience is not required.

Please send all nominations to manybabiesconsortium@gmail.com, and clearly indicate the role(s) of the intended nomination – Governing Board or Student Advisor.

Nominations should include a short blurb – no more than 100 words – about qualifications and/or why the nominee would be a good candidate. Links to papers or websites are welcome as part of this blurb.

Nomination deadline: May 11, 2022

GB election

Once the nomination period closes, the current members of the Governing Board and the Executive Director of MB will evaluate the GB nominations and choose a slate of candidates to be put forward for a vote by MB members. For the purpose of this election, MB members are defined as anyone who has appeared as an author on a completed MB project or who is listed as a contributor on a current MB project (as reported by filling out a project’s CRediT self-report form or authorship contribution spreadsheet*).

* If you have not received a CRediT self-report form from your Project Leads by May 11, please contact manybabiesconsortium@gmail.com.

In selecting the slate of GB candidates, consideration will be given to the following: diversity** (including but not limited to race, ethnicity, disability, gender, career stage, geographic location, and institution type); contributions to robust, reproducible developmental research; previous ManyBabies experience and contributions; contributions to transparent, open science (including but not limited to open education, participation, citizen science). We welcome identification of relevant contributions or experience outside of mainstream scientific career routes. Should we miss a key dimension here, please reach out and let us know.

** Candidates can choose to confidentially identify themselves as a member of an underrepresented minority group within MB to the Executive Director and Governing Board, and this information will not be disclosed without the candidate’s consent.

MB members will be sent a link to vote in the election at the beginning of the election period (May 16, 2022), and will have until the end of the election period (May 27, 2022) to cast their votes.

SA selection

The Student Advisor will be selected by the Governing Board (including new member-elects) no later than two weeks after the conclusion of the Governing Board election (June 10, 2022).

In selecting the SA, consideration will be given to diversity (see above), previous ManyBabies experience and contributions, and interest in open science practices.

Important dates

Note: dates subject to change; any changes will be publicized

Nomination deadline: May 11, 2022
GB slate selection: by May 13, 2022
GB election period: May 16-27, 2022
SA selection: by June 10, 2022
Term start date for new members: June 20, 2022

Please direct any questions to MB’s Executive Director (manybabiesconsortium@gmail.com) or any member of the current ManyBabies leadership team: https://manybabies.github.io/people/

For questions, please contact MB's Executive Director
Heidi Baumgartner at manybabiesconsortium@gmail.com.

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