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, please contact MSA Headquarters at this email.
Want to get involved in one of our Committees? Log into the Member Portal to submit a Volunteer Interest Form!
Archives Committee
The main function of the Archives Committee 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.
Interim Chair
Nestor J. Zaluzec
ZNL
Email
Belonging, Enrichment, Empowerment, and Support (BEES) Committee
The BEES Committee aims to promote the visibilty and discussion of BEES (Belonging, Enrichment, Empowerment, and Support) topics within the Society and microscopy-at-large and to facilitate increased attendance and involvement within the Society, at Society-related events, and among Society leadership positions.
Chair
Gail Celio
University of Minnesota
Email
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
Sara Pawlak
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Email
Marketing & Communications Committee
The Marketing and Communications Committee is tasked with enhancing the society's communication strategies to effectively engage with its membership, stakeholders, and potential new audiences. The committee's primary objective is to collaborate with MSA’s marketing staff and provide guidance to develop and implement comprehensive communication plans that align with MSA's goals.
Chair
Nasim Alem
Penn State University
Email
Early Career Committee
The Early Career Committee (ECC) champions the growth and success of postdocs and early career professionals within the Microscopy Society of America (MSA). By creating a vibrant and supportive community, the ECC connects emerging microscopists with established members, offering resources, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. Through these efforts, the ECC aims to inspire the next generation of innovators while strengthening MSA’s network as a global hub for professionals in microscopy and related disciplines.
Working hand in hand with other MSA committees, the ECC develops programs that tackle the unique hurdles of transitioning from student to professional — such as building advanced technical expertise, finding funding, mapping out career directions, and establishing meaningful professional relationships. From conference events and interactive workshops to year-round virtual engagements, ECC initiatives equip early career members with the skills, confidence, and connections vital for thriving in their careers and evolving into future leaders of the Society.
Contact the Early Career Committee: earlycareer@microscopy.org
Chair
Daniela Fonseca
Lehigh University
Email
Co-Chair
Joy (Hsin-Yun) Chao
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Email
Interested in joining the ECC? Fill out an interest form here!
Education Outreach Committee (EOC)
The MSA Education Outreach Committee (EOC) supports various programs and initiatives that advance the use of microscopy as a transformative educational tool, aiming to foster curiosity and support scientific engagement across diverse audiences.
Chair
Louisa Mezache
The Ohio State University
Email
Educational Resources Committee
The Education Resources Committee aims to provide attendees to MSA's annual conference (M&M) with learning opportunities such as Sunday short courses and tutorials. Topics for both the courses and tutorials are intended to be relevant to increasing and mastering fundamental knowledge as well as learning about state-of-the-art approaches to microscopy & microanalysis.
Focused Interest Groups (FIG) Committee
The FIG Committee oversees MSA Focused Interest Groups (FIGs), vibrant & active communitites of MSA members within specialized technical fields. In this capacity, the Committee aims to build and disseminate expert knowledge, fostering collaboration and advancing research that utilizes microscopy and analysis tools, and to provide a direct line of communication between these FIGs and MSA's leadership, ensuring the Society remains responsive to emerging scientific needs.
To learn more about the current MSA FIGs and find FIG Leadership contact information, please click here.
International Committee
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
Joe Patterson
University of California, Irvine
Email
Co-Chair
Roberto dos Reis
Northwestern University
Email
Local Affiliated Societies (LAS) Committee
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.
LAS Director
Bernd Zechmann
Baylor University
E-mail
M&M Travel Awards Committee
The M&M Travel Awards Committee manages the evaluation and award of travel awards to MSA's annual conference (M&M). The Committee also organizes, judges, and awards the onsite poster awards at the meeting each year.
Major Society Awards Committee
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. Learn more about MSA's Awards and Fellows here.
Chair
Claudia López
Oregon Health and Science University
Email
Megabooth Committee
The Megabooth Committee organizes the MSA Megabooth each year at MSA's annual conference (M&M). The Committee maintains the Megabooth's presence, design, and coordinates with other Committees to provide relevant offerings to M&M attendees and MSA members onsite each year.
Chair
Dave Tomlin
Core4ce
Email
Co-Chair
Chris Brantner
University of Maryland
Email
Membership Committee
The Membership Committee aims to push the Society's vision forward through targeted recruitment, engagement, and retention programs built to serve MSA members' needs and improve both the membership experience and overall volunteer engagement. These efforts aim to position membership and engagement with the Society as a pathway for professional contribution, leadership, and long-term impact within the microscopy community.
Nominations Committee
This committee is charged with overseeing the smooth and orderly transition of MSA leadership, according to procedures laid out in the Society bylaws. The Committee is chaired by the MSA Past President.
Chair
Paul Voyles, MSA Past President
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Email
Program Committee
The Program Committee takes overall responsibility for planning and coordinating all activities associated with the Microscopy & Microanalysis (M&M) 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.
Publications Committee
The Publications Committee serves as the liaison to our publishers and editors of the Society's publications, working side-by-side with representatives of Microscopy Today (MT), Microscopy and Microanalysis (MaM), and Elemental Microscopy.
Chairs
Grant Jensen, MSA President
Paul Voyles, MSA Past President
Masashi Watanabe, MSA President Elect
Scientific Advisory Committee
The goal of this Committee is to develop and provide input to MSA Council on important strategic scientific directions to influence MSA activites. This includes high level reviews of current activities and novel strategic scientific opportunities where the Society can help strengthen US scientific infrastructure in microscopy.
Chair
Peter Crozier
Arizona State University
Email
Standards Committee
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.
Chair
Nestor J. Zaluzec
ZNL
Email
Strategic Initiatives Review Committee
The Strategic Initiatives Review Committee (SIRC) runs the MSA Strategic Initiatives program, evaluating proposals and recommending funding to MSA Council for bold and new innovative projects that advance the mission and vision of MSA.
Chair
Peter Ercius
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Email
Sustaining Membership Committee
Sustaining membership in 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 to the mission and vision of the Society. In addition to the broad benefit of promoting the professional organization in the microscopic imaging and analytical sciences, Sustaining Members are recognized prominently in MSA publications along with a host of other benefits. This Committee acts as the bridge between Sustaining Members and the cohort of exhibitors & sponsors at the annual conference (M&M) and provides a space for feedback and conversation on relevant aspects of the Society's operations.
Chair
Hope Arnold
TESCAN USA
Email
Technologists' Forum
The mission of the Technologists' Forum (TechForum) is to provide resources, tools, and training to laboratory technologists who use microscopy and microscopy-related methods in research and industry. Through these efforts, the TechForum helps broaden and strengthen MSA membership by supporting the professional development of technologists.