Responsibilities   

The Committee is dedicated to supporting and encouraging early career researchers in advancing basic and clinical/translational research in biological psychiatry. The committee is responsible for reviewing and evaluating submitted nominations for the A.E. Bennett Award in Basic Research and Clinical/Translational Research through fair and thoughtful evaluation of each candidate’s contributions to the field. Subsequently, the committee recommends the selected winners to the Council for final approval

Composition

The committee is composed of SOBP members who serve a three-year term. The committee will include representation from various segments of the SOBP community. When vacancies arise, they are announced to the SOBP membership, inviting interested members to volunteer. Committee members and chair(s) are then selected by the Council from the pool of volunteers.

Schedule

The committee convenes virtually once a year in April to evaluate nominations for the award; additional work is conducted via email as needed.

Current Members

Responsibilities 

The Communications Task Force is committed to enhancing the Society’s outreach, visibility, and engagement with both members and the broader public. This group implements communication strategies that promote SOBP’s mission, scientific contributions, and initiatives through social media and promotional materials. Additionally, the task force plays a key role in public outreach efforts, organizing and supporting public lectures and newsletters aimed at the general public that bring cutting-edge research in biological psychiatry to a wider audience.

Composition

The task force is composed of Number Here SOBP members who serve a three-year term. The task force will include representation from various segments of the SOBP community. The task force should also include the SOBP member designated as Social Media Editor. When vacancies arise, they are announced to the SOBP membership, inviting interested members to volunteer. Committee members and chair(s) are then selected by the Council from the pool of volunteers.

Schedule

The committee convenes virtually at regular, typically monthly intervals, throughout the year; additional work is conducted via email as needed.

Current Members

Responsibilities

The Education Committee is responsible for developing and overseeing educational initiatives that support the professional growth of members at all career stages. The committee designs and implements workshops, mentorship opportunities, research and career skills development sessions. It also plays a key role in curating educational content for the SOBP Annual Meeting and other Society-sponsored activities.

Composition

The committee is composed of nineteen SOBP members who serve a three-year term. The committee will include representation from various segments of the SOBP community. When vacancies arise, they are announced to the SOBP membership, inviting interested members to volunteer. Committee members and chair(s) are then selected by the Council from the pool of volunteers.

Schedule

The committee convenes virtually at regular, typically monthly intervals, throughout the year; additional work is conducted via email as needed.

Current Members

 Responsibilities

The Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing the Society’s strategic direction, governance, and operational priorities. The committee works closely with the Executive Office to ensure the effective management of SOBP’s initiatives, financial health, and organizational policies. It plays a key role in decision-making, advising the Council, and ensuring that SOBP’s mission is upheld through its programs, meetings, and member services. The Executive Committee also facilitates communication between committees, supports long-term planning, and ensures that the Society remains responsive to the evolving needs of its members and the field of biological psychiatry.

Composition

The committee consists of the President, President-Elect, Executive Secretary, and Treasurer, with administrative support and guidance provided by the Executive Office. The President and President-Elect each serve two-year terms, with one year in each respective role. The Executive Secretary and Treasurer serve four-year terms, which may be renewed for an additional four years. Presidential candidates are nominated by the Nominating Committee, and the final selection is determined through a membership vote. The Executive Secretary and Treasurer are appointed by the Council from among its members.

Schedule

The committee convenes virtually at monthly intervals throughout the year; additional work is conducted via email as needed.

Current Members

Responsibilities

The duty of this committee is to select the recipient(s) for each honorific award and forward their name to Council for endorsement.  The committee oversees the evaluation of nominees for the following awards: Gold Medal, George N. Thompson Distinguished Service Award, Humanitarian, and Educator.

Composition The Honorific Awards Committee is chaired by the current President and includes the five most recent Past-Presidents.

Schedule

The committee convenes virtually on one or two occasions prior to the annual meeting; additional work is conducted via email as needed.

Current Members

Responsibilities

The Membership Committee is responsible for reviewing and assessing membership applications, ensuring that new members align with the Society’s standards. In addition, the committee actively engages in initiatives to attract new members and retain existing members by developing strategies to enhance the value of SOBP membership.

Composition

The committee is comprised of two SOBP members that serve as chair and co-chair for a term of 3 years.

Schedule

The committee convenes virtually every three months; additional work is conducted via email as needed.

Current Members

Responsibilities

The committee is responsible for identifying qualified standard SOBP members as candidates for the roles of President, Junior Councilor, and Councilor-at-Large, ensuring a highly capable slate of nominees that represents the different segments of the SOBP membership. Once a list of candidates is finalized, it is submitted to the Council for approval. The approved candidates are then presented to the SOBP membership for a vote, allowing members to select their future leaders and shape the direction of the Society.

Composition The committee is composed of nine SOBP members who serve a three-year term. The committee will include representation from various segments of the SOBP community. When vacancies arise, they are announced to the SOBP membership, inviting interested members to volunteer. Committee members and chair(s) are then selected by the Council from the pool of volunteers.

Schedule

The committee convenes virtually on one or two occasions prior to the annual meeting; additional work is conducted via email as needed.

Current Members

Responsibilities

The Scientific Program Committee plays a pivotal role in shaping the content and structure of the conference, ensuring a high-quality and engaging scientific program. The committee is responsible for reviewing and selecting submitted abstracts, oral presentations and symposia, maintaining scientific rigor, relevance, and innovation in the field. Members work to develop a balanced program that reflects cutting-edge research, multiple perspectives, and emerging trends. The committee’s chair and co-chair oversee the scheduling and organization of sessions, ensuring a seamless flow of presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

The President and the Committee Chair select the keynote speakers and work with them to develop the content and involve them in networking opportunities.

Composition The committee consists of 60 SOBP members, including a Committee Chair and the President. The President serves as Co-Chair of the committee during their presidential year, while the Chair is appointed by the President and serves a one-year term. After completing their leadership roles, both the Chair and President may continue to participate as ordinary committee members in future terms. All other members serve a term of [X] years. When vacancies arise, they are announced to the SOBP membership, inviting interested members to volunteer. From this pool, new committee members are selected by the Council.

Schedule

The committee meets in person during the SOBP Annual Meeting and convenes virtually on two occasions in the months leading up to the meeting. Additional work is carried out as needed via email and through the annual meeting’s submission and evaluation dashboard.

Current Members

Responsibilities

The Travel Award Committee is responsible for selecting recipients for the North American, International, and Predoctoral Fellowships, recognizing outstanding early-career researchers and trainees in biological psychiatry. The committee carefully reviews applications to identify candidates who demonstrate exceptional promise and contributions to the field. In addition, the committee works closely with the Education Committee to develop and coordinate educational, mentoring, and networking activities tailored to support the professional growth of award recipients.

Composition The committee consists of 34 SOBP members that serve a term of three years. The committee will include representation from various segments of the SOBP community. When vacancies arise, they are announced to the SOBP membership, inviting interested members to volunteer. Committee members and chair(s) are then selected by the Council from the pool of volunteers.

Schedule

The committee meets virtually once or twice in the months preceding the annual meeting; additional work is carried out as needed via email.

Current Members