Nomination procedure for EMBO Membership
The EMBO Membership is invited in November each year to nominate candidates for election to the membership.
1. Each ordinary EMBO Member may propose or sponsor the nomination of two candidates for ordinary membership and one candidate for associate membership.
EMBO Associate Members may propose (but not sponsor) a maximum of two candidates for ordinary membership and propose or sponsor the nomination of one candidate for associate membership.
2. The proposer (ordinary or associate member) must complete a nomination form for the nominated candidate and ask four additional ordinary EMBO Members to email a brief statement of their support of the candidate to the EMBO office.
At least three of the five EMBO Members supporting a candidate should reside in a country other than the candidate’s host country.
Nominations for associate membership (i.e. for scientists working in countries outside the EMBC Member States) require support from four members, one of who may be an associate member.
3. The deadline for receipt of nominations is 15 February.
Election procedure for EMBO Membership
Following receipt of the nominations, the ballot documentation is assembled each year for distribution to all ordinary EMBO Members.
Members are requested to record their votes and return completed ballot papers by 9 April.
Each year EMBO Council determines the number of new ordinary members to be elected. The top 60 percent of the total number of candidates to be elected are determined by direct vote by the EMBO Membership.
The remaining 40 percent will be co-opted by EMBO Council after a thorough review by the Membership Committee. The Membership Committee consists of five sections, represented by four EMBO Members in each section:
- Structure and Bio-computing
- Genes, genomes, gene expression
- Cell biology
- Immunology and pathogens
- Neuroscience and development
Candidates will be reviewed by the appropriate section according to their field of research. The Membership Committee will then make a suggestion for co-option to the EMBO Council.
EMBO Council then considers the list of candidates suggested for co-option at its annual meeting in October each year. Once approved, the new EMBO Members are contacted prior to public announcement. The proposers of the candidates who were not elected that year are notified. If a proposer decides to re-nominate their candidate for election in the following year, a new nomination must be submitted (see nomination procedure).
The Membership Committee also discusses the list of the candidates nominated for the associate membership and puts together a short list for this category.
EMBO Council
EMBO Council is the governing body of EMBO, responsible for ensuring the development of the organization. It consists of 15 members, who serve for a period of three years and who may be re-elected for one additional term of office.
Nomination of members to serve on EMBO Council
Each ordinary EMBO Member can sponsor/propose not more then one candidate for EMBO Council each year. Nomination to the EMBO Council shall be signed by four ordinary members and sent to the EMBO office by the deadline of 15 February.
Election of members to serve on EMBO Council
Ballot papers are sent out to all ordinary EMBO Members. Each member has normally 3 votes (or as specified on the ballot paper). The three candidates for EMBO Council receiving the highest number of votes are elected members of the Council for a one term of office of three years starting 1 January of the following year. In addition, EMBO Council can co-opt two further EMBO Members to join the Council.