Trainee Advisory Committee

TAC is composed of one regular or student trainee member selected by each section of the Society, plus a chair. Each member serves a term of three years. Fourth-year postdoctoral fellows are not eligible for appointment. Consecutive terms are prohibited from the same section. The chair is appointed by the APS Board of Directors from self-nominated candidates; preferred candidates are current TAC members and persons who have served on the TAC within the previous three years. The chair also serves on the APS Advisory Council. The learning and career development manager serves as staff liaison to the committee.

• Investigate the needs of trainees, both predoctoral and postdoctoral, to determine how the Society can provide necessary support and assistance.
• Coordinate activities with other APS committees to enhance the status and respond to the needs of trainees (graduate, postdoctoral and early career).
• Organize a symposium or workshop at the APS annual meeting designed to assist trainees in their development of independent careers.
• Publish an email newsletter for trainees and advise on and contribute to other online networking tools (e.g., Facebook) for communicating with trainee members.
• Encourage the active membership of trainees in the Society.
• Welcome new trainee members on behalf of the Society, the section, and TAC and provide information on Society benefits and activities for trainees.
• Select the Dale J. Benos Early Career Professional Service Award.
• Oversee the Graduate Student Ambassador Program.
• Submit a written annual report to the Board at their spring meeting, as part of the consent agenda, providing activities from the previous 12 months. The report will be due three weeks ahead of the meeting.