Dear All, The SCAR Antarctic Wildlife Health Network Steering Committee is calling for nominations to fill the vacant Steering Committee positions and Early Career Researcher (ECR) positions. Nominations are now open.
*Who we are* Antarctica is currently facing profound environmental changes driven by global climate change and local human activities. These shifts heighten the risk of introducing new pathogens, triggering outbreaks of endemic diseases, and weakening the immune responses of animals due to stress and pollution-related immunosuppression. Despite the urgency, our understanding of new and emerging pathogenic threats, impacts of pollutants and climate driven changes on the health of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic wildlife remains limited. There is a notable lack of baseline data and ongoing monitoring programmes, making the work of AWHN all the more vital. The AWHN-AG provides expert advice and risk assessments on pathogens and disease risk, impacts of contaminants and climate drive changes on Antarctic wildlife health to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), and Antarctic Stakeholders such as the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), etc. The nomination period will close on the *27th September 2026*. Below is a list of the vacant positions (associated to this mailing group), selection criteria for appointment to the Steering Committee and expectations of committee members. If you are interested in several positions, you can nominate yourself for more than one position. Appointment will run from November 2026 - August 2028. Members of the steering committee oversee the day to day running of the Action Group. The Steering Committee meets monthly during the non-field season. A town hall meeting will be organized in late September 2027, and could be used as an opportunity to meet the broader group (information to come by email - if you are not already on the AWHN mailing list, please join via this link *https://lists.scar.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/awhn.lists.scar.org/* <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lists.scar.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/awhn.lists.scar.org__;!!Jh1S!nOX3nloDnXt5t6fuFZ4IuyGlEMY3DOQTfnQ6XNvMGkUrssWGXtmkHzgBCVCF76IQr0qJO6lDz1qstvgP8GAFvjNBCn-CG1NF$> ). *STEERING COMMITTEE POSITION (ECRs, see next section)* *Positions Available* - Antarctic Pinniped Representative - Antarctic Cetacean Representative - Antarctic Policy Representative *Selection Criteria* - 5 years’ experience in Antarctic Wildlife Health (*ECRS can apply for the dedicated position, see next section*). - Experience in the relevant Antarctic field as evidenced by peer review publications or policy experience as SCAR delegate, or representative to Council of Manager of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP), Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP), Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), and/or Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) levels. *Expectations* - Assist with day to day running of the Action Group - Attend a minimum of 6 steering committee meetings per year - Assist with development and writing of information and working papers for the ATCM, CEP, CCAMLR *How to Apply* Complete the nomination form at: *https://forms.gle/RkgkjFjxyzQTgJpr6* <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.gle/RkgkjFjxyzQTgJpr6__;!!Jh1S!nOX3nloDnXt5t6fuFZ4IuyGlEMY3DOQTfnQ6XNvMGkUrssWGXtmkHzgBCVCF76IQr0qJO6lDz1qstvgP8GAFvjNBCm0efrvM$> - Select the position(s) you wish to nominate for (can select more than one) - Provide a short biography (150-words max) highlighting your contribution to the relevant field - Provide evidence of expertise (e.g., top 5 publications in the relevant field or evidence of policy engagement) *Recruitment Process* - Applications will be screened by the current members of the Steering Committee for eligibility criteria - An election will be held for the positions. If there is no candidate nominated the position will remain vacant until a suitable candidate is identified. - *Nominations close 27th September 2026* - Elections will open to all the AWHN members on 1st October 2026 - Elections will close on 20th October 2026 - Nominees will be notified of the outcome after elections close Please share with your team and other Antarctic colleagues! *EARLY CAREER RESEARCHERS* A town hall meeting will be organized in September 2027, and could be used as an opportunity to meet the broader group (information to come by email - if you are not already on the AWHN mailing list, please join via this link https://lists.scar.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/awhn.lists.scar.org/ <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lists.scar.org/mailman3/postorius/lists/awhn.lists.scar.org__;!!Jh1S!m8x-eS2gpw4DogzaYlbCyGyAucgtxdE2_-HdHCcGHXj4Dfp1_6J8R3YCe1l67A65OsjxfkJndpsWvcCy1JRz4Qu7IzCpWbfN$> ). *Role of ECR Representative * - Organise AWHN Seminar Series (~ 3 to 4 talks per year) - Contribute to the AWHN Steering Committee activities (monthly meetings, contribute to documents, etc) *Appointment*: 1 year (November 2026 to October 2027), with opportunity for renewal *Eligibility Criteria for ECR Representative* - Current Masters/PhD Student or PostDoc <5 yrs post PhD - Currently working on Antarctic or sub-Antarctic wildlife health including - Disease - Contaminants - Immunology - And/or stress *Recruitment Process* - Applications will be screened by the current members of the Steering Committee for eligibility criteria - An election will be held for the positions. If there is no candidate nominated the position will remain vacant until a suitable candidate is identified. - *Nominations close 27th September 2026* - Elections will open to all the AWHN members on 1st October 2026 - Elections will close on 20th October 2026 - Nominees will be notified of the outcome after elections close - Other candidates are welcome to contribute as Action Group members *How to apply* Complete the nomination form by by *27th September 202**6 *at: https://forms.gle/oBUj1NNhXLWZgD719 <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.gle/oBUj1NNhXLWZgD719__;!!Jh1S!m8x-eS2gpw4DogzaYlbCyGyAucgtxdE2_-HdHCcGHXj4Dfp1_6J8R3YCe1l67A65OsjxfkJndpsWvcCy1JRz4Qu7I2y9s2eB$> This includes: - A brief statement of interest (ca. 300 words), including: - Your (research) background - Your motivation in joining the Steering Committee - A CV - For Masters/PhD students please provide a contact (email) for your advisor for them to confirm your availability for the position. Please share with your team and other Antarctic ECR colleagues! Sincerely, The AWHN Steering Committee Meagan, Michelle, Arvind, Thomas & Amandine -- Renato F. Borras-Chavez, Ph.D. (he/him/his) Marine Mammal Ecophysiology Postdoctoral Fellow | Kienle Lab | University of Rhode Island Council Member | Association of Polar Early Career Scientists (APECS) APECS Representative| EG-BAMM SCAR Group
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