Committees

MSA Committees ensure the strength of our organization by promoting clear and concise goals for our volunteers. If you are interested in starting a new committee or FIG, please contact MSA Headquarters at this Email.

Archivist

The main function of the Archivist is to collect and make available media of all kinds that is of importance to the history of the Society. A subsidiary function is to assist with preservation of historically-important equipment. The ongoing Oral History Project has resulted in a collection of over 50 video interviews of outstanding microscopists. The most visible aspect of the Archives is the display of historical posters each year at the annual meeting, which includes yearly special or commemorative posters.

Chair
Michael Marko
HLM Microscopy Consulting
Email

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Certification Board

The Certification Board administers the written and practical examinations to certify biological transmission electron microscopy technologists. Examinations are administered to qualified candidates twice a year. Please contact the chairman for further information.

Chair
Rudy Alvarado
University of Florida
Email

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

Chair
Treva Brown
US Naval Research Laboratory
Email

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Education

These committees are dedicated to the development and successful implementation of educational and instructional programs for the benefit of the members of the society as well as others seeking to gain knowledge of microscopy and its associated techniques.

Over the years, the Education Committee has grown in size and responsibility, with many divergent subcommittees. It was most natural to create two committees, one involved with Educational Resources during the M&M meeting and the other with Educational Outreach associated with outside activities.

Click here for more information.

Educational Resources - M&M Meeting:

Chair:
Miaofang Chi
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Email

Educational Outreach:

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Focused Interest Groups (FIGs)

MSA FIGs are groups of MSA members who have organized, with the approval of MSA Council, to promote a specific discipline relevant to microscopy or microanalysis. Each FIG must have a minimum of 10 members to remain active. All MSA members are eligible and encouraged to participate in the existing FIGs for an annual fee.

Any group of MSA members who wishes to organize a new Focused Interest Group may contact the FIG Chair for more information.

To learn more about the current MSA FIGs and find FIG Leadership contact information, please click here

• Official MSA Guidelines for all FIGs

Chair:
Katherine Jungjohann
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
E-mail

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International

The International Committee serves the needs and interests of MSA international members. This group allows members outside of North America to have a unified voice in presenting important global issue to the MSA Council and to the organization as a whole.

Chair
David Bell
Harvard University, Center for Nanoscale Systems
Email

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Local Affiliated Societies

The Local Affiliated Societies Director oversees the Microscopy Society of America's program that helps the local affiliate societies hold successful meetings throughout the year. The funding programs consist of: the Tour Speaker Program, the Grant-in-Aid Program and the Special Meeting Funding Program. The Director works with the local affiliates and acts as the liaison between the local affiliates and MSA Council.

Director
Bernd Zechmann
Baylor University
E-mail

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Major Society Awards

The MSA Major Society Awards Committee ensures that experts and accomplished individuals in their field gain the proper recognition for their work through special awards and presentations.

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M&M Meeting Awards

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Membership

The main functions of the Membership Committee are to consider new products and services designed for members, develop new methods of expanding the membership of the Society, to foster student member growth, and to retain those individuals who are currently members.

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Nominations

This committee is charged with overseeing the smooth and orderly transition of MSA leadership, according to procedures laid out in the Society By-Laws. The Committee is chaired by the MSA Past President.

Chair:
Deb Kelly
Pennsylvania State University
Email

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Placement Office

The Placement Office provides a resource for prospective employers to advertise available positions in the field of microscopy. This is an ideal forum for prospective employers to get direct contact with the microscopy community and immediate access to members seeking employment. Space is also provided in the MSA Booth at the annual meetings for employers to list positions at no cost and for members seeking jobs to post their resumes.

Chair
Joe Patterson
University of California, Irvine
E-mail

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Program

The Executive Program Committee takes overall responsibility for planning and coordinating all activities associated with the Microscopy & Microanalysis meeting which is the annual scientific meeting of the Microscopy Society of America and the Microanalysis Society. The Committee also includes representatives from co-sponsoring societies. The chairs and co-chairs of future meetings are included on the committee to ensure a certain continuity to the meeting organization. Suggestions for future meetings such as topical symposia and tutorials, are always welcome and should be sent to the Program Committee Chair.

Chair
Ru-Ching Hsia
Carnegie Institution of Science
E-mail

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Publications

The Publications committee serves as the liaison to our publishers and editors, working side by side with representatives of Microscopy Today, Microscopy and Microanalysis, and the MSA Book Series. See separate listings for publications.

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Standards

The Standards Committee conducts most of its business electronically, except for a meetings held during major EM conferences where the committee members are attending. The committee has prepared a specification document that provides an in-depth review of the motivation, goals, and underlying considerations of a Hyper-dimensional Spectral File Format.

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Sustaining Members

Sustaining membership in the Microscopy Society of America (MSA) is the way in which members of the Microscopy community, especially those with commercial concerns interested in its promotion and growth, provide special support. In addition to the broad benefit of promoting the professional organization in the microscopic imaging and analytical sciences, Sustaining Members are recognized prominently in all MSA publications including the Microscopy and Microanalysis Journal, the Annual Meeting Proceedings, the MSA Directory, the annual Meeting Program, and the Microscopy and Microanalysis Exhibit Supplement. Sustaining Members are also consulted regularly for advice on relevant aspects of the Society's operations.

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Technologists' Forum

The mission of the Technologists' Forum is to promote those aspects of microscopy of interest to technologists. The Tech Forum is an MSA Committee with representation on Council by a liaison. Activities and benefits of the Tech Forum are available to all MSA members who wish to join. There is no extra fee to be a member of the Tech Forum. Their booth is part of the MSA Megabooth at the annual M&M meeting..

Chair
Page Baluch, PhD
Arizona State University
Email

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