Governance vacancies 2027
The deadline to apply for 2027 governance vacancies is 17 May 2026.
There are many benefits to joining our governance structure. As well as the professional development and networking opportunities, we find that many members of our governance structure really enjoy becoming more connected to the microbiology community while carrying out their roles. The vacancies available this year (to take office from January 2027) span the breadth of our Trustee Board, Advisory Council, Committees and Divisions.
For most positions, applications are welcome from Full, Full Concessionary, Honorary and Postgraduate Student members. However, all members can apply to join the Members Panel and any member of the Early Career Forum is eligible to apply for roles on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee (you can find out how to sign up on our EC Forum page). There is no requirement for you to have prior experience in our governance to apply. Reasonable expenses incurred to perform your role on behalf of the Society will always be covered, up to the limits set in our expenses policy. For information on how we will process your application, please read our FAQs.
We would love to hear from you, whether you have been involved with the Society’s governance before or it is your first time applying!
If you know what you want to apply to, please read the guidance below and log into MiSociety and submit an application by clicking the button below. Otherwise, scroll down to view all vacancies and information.
Application guidance
Please read the Role Description and Terms of Reference documentation for the role you are applying to before completing your application. For some roles we suggest you contact us to chat through the requirements and responsibilities before applying. Please get in touch with us by emailing [email protected] to set this up.
Please ensure you complete the candidate statement anonymously, as this will be published in the event of an election. Please refrain from referencing individuals or institutions by name or anything that would make you identifiable. The Microbiology Society reserves the right not to accept an election statement that is not sufficiently anonymised, exceeds the word limit, is factually inaccurate or contains libellous material. Microbiology Society reserves the right to withdraw candidates from the process if they intentionally identify themselves, or others through the course of the application, appointment or election process.
Alternative application formats can be made available upon request. Please contact [email protected] with your requirements.
If you are planning to submit an application to join our governance, please ensure your Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Questionnaire answers are up to date. While it is voluntary to disclose information about yourself, your responses will be instrumental in supporting us to make the Society more inclusive.
Available vacancies
We have 33 vacancies currently open for applications across our governance structure. For most positions, applications are welcome from Full, Full Concessionary, Honorary, and Postgraduate Student members. However, all members can apply to join the Members Panel and any member of the Early Career Forum is eligible to apply for roles on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee (you can find out how to sign up on our EC Forum page).
Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees provides the strategic direction of the Society and is responsible for its governance and financial sustainability. Board members bear the legal responsibilities of Trustees of the Charity and Directors of the Company and take a variety of important strategic and legal decisions on how the Society deploys its assets and supports its membership.
It is the Board of Trustees responsibility to maintain the best interests of the Society. The Board is seeking an engaged member who wishes to serve the community and upholds the values of the organisation.
Elected Member of the Board of Trustees
- One vacancy
- Term of office is three years from January 2027 to December 2029
- Time commitment approximately 10–12 days per year
- See full role description for further details
This role is elected by the Advisory Council. Candidates’ identities may be revealed for the final ballot.
Advisory Council
Advisory Council is responsible for delivering active engagement and insights on behalf of the microbiology community. Its composition includes 10 co-Chairs of Committees, six elected members and three Executive Officers. Advisory Council reports to the Board of Trustees.
Elected Members of Advisory Council
Elected Members may also choose to sit as a representative of one of the Society’s Committees.
- Two vacancies
- Term of office is three years from January 2027 to December 2029
- Time commitment approximately 3 days per year
- See full role description for further details
The Advisory Council is governed by the Bye-Laws. This role is elected by the membership.
Other vacancies
There are four other vacancies that will also be members of Advisory Council the following year:
- Building Communities Committee co-Chair elect and Chair-elect of Publishing Panel
- Early Career Forum Executive Committee co-Chair
- Impact and Influence Committee co-Chair elect
- Members Panel co-Chair-elect
Details can be found in their respective Committee sections below.
Building Communities Committee
The Building Communities Committee is responsible for driving content themes for events, journals and other activities to support the Society’s three main strategic objectives. The Committee works with the Scientific Conferences Panel and Publishing Panel to ensure their activities are aligned.
Learn more about the Building Communities Committee.
Read the Building Communities Committee Terms of Reference.
Co-Chair-elect and Chair-elect of the Publishing Panel
- One vacancy
- Term of office is two years from January 2027 to December 2028
- Time commitment approximately 12 days per year
- See full role description for further details
This role is appointed by the Board of Trustees in consultation with the Advisory Council on the recommendation of the Appointments Panel.
Elected Member of Building Communities Committee
- One vacancy
- Term of office is three years from January 2028 to December 2030
- Time commitment approximately 5 days per year
- See full role description for further details
This role is elected by the membership.
Other vacancies
There is one additional vacancy available on the Building Communities Committee for a representative from the Early Career Forum. See the Early Career Forum Executive Committee section for details.
Early Career Forum Executive Committee
The Early Career Forum Executive Committee is responsible for ensuring that the views of the Early Career Forum are considered across all streams of the Society’s work to support the Society’s three main strategic objectives, including in the design and development of Society activities to advance careers in microbiology.
Learn more about the Early Career Forum Executive Committee.
Read the Early Career Forum Executive Committee Terms of Reference.
Co-Chair
The Early Career Forum Executive Committee has two co-Chairs who lead the Committee in representing the interests of early career microbiologists to the Society. They also sit on Advisory Council.
- One vacancy
- Sits on Advisory Council and the Early Career Forum Executive Committee
- Term of office is six months as co-Chair-elect from July 2026 to December 2026, then two years as co-Chair from January 2027 to December 2028
- Time commitment approximately 8 days per year
- See full role description for further details
This vacancy is elected by the membership of the Early Career Forum.
Early Career Committee and Division Representatives
The Early Career Forum Executive Committee and Division Representatives are each elected to sit on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee, as well as one other Committee or Division of the Society’s governance structure. They participate fully in both Committees/Divisions to represent the interests of early career microbiologists within the Society.
The following Committee and Division representative positions are available on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee. Members may apply for multiple EC representative positions but no more than three.
Building Communities Committee Representative
- One vacancy
- Sits on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee and on Building Communities Committee
- Term of office is two years from January 2027 to December 2028
Finance Committee Representative
- One vacancy
- Sits on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee and on Finance Committee
- Term of office is two years from January 2027 to December 2028
Impact and Influence Committee Representative
- One vacancy
- Sits on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee and on Impact and Influence Committee
- Term of office is two years from January 2027 to December 2028
Irish Division Representative
- One vacancy
- Sits on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee and on the Irish Division
- Term of office is two years from January 2027 to December 2028
Sustainability Committee Representative
- One vacancy
- Sits on the Early Career Forum Executive Committee and on Sustainability Committee
- Term of office is two years from January 2027 to December 2028
These vacancies are elected by the membership of the Early Career Forum.
Impact and Influence Committee
The Impact and Influence Committee is responsible for advancing the understanding and impact of microbiology by highlighting the global importance of the work of our members and other microbiologists.
Read the Impact and Influence Committee Terms of Reference.
Co-Chair-elect
- One vacancy
- Term of office is one year from January to December 2027 as co-Chair-elect and a further three years from January 2028 to December 2030 as co-Chair
- Time commitment approximately 10 days per year
- See full role description for further details
This role is appointed by the Board of Trustees in consultation with the Advisory Council on the recommendation of the Appointments Panel.
Elected Member of Impact and Influence Committee
- Four vacancies
- Term of office is three years from January 2028 to December 2030
- Time commitment approximately 5 days per year
- See full role description for further details
This role is elected by the membership.
Other vacancies
There is one additional vacancy available on the Impact and Influence Committee for a representative from the Early Career Forum. See the Early Career Forum Executive Committee section for details.
Members Panel
The Members Panel contributes to the delivery of the Society’s strategic objectives by bringing the perspectives of historically marginalised communities to the Society’s efforts. The Panel ensures that the Society is welcoming across all of its activities and that matters related to equality, diversity and inclusion receive due consideration at the highest level of Society governance.
Learn more about the Members Panel.
Read the Members Panel Terms of Reference.
Co-Chair elect
The Members Panel has two co-Chairs who lead the Panel and sit on the Advisory Council. To balance the representation of this committee, the Members Panel is particularly interested in receiving applications from members who identify as women or nonbinary.
- One vacancy
- Term of office is one year from January–December 2027 as Chair-elect followed by three years from January 2028 to December 2029 as co-Chair.
- Time commitment approximately 10 days per year
- See full role description for further details
Sustainability Committee
The Sustainability Committee is responsible for developing the future leadership of the Society and for ensuring the long-term viability of our operations to support the Society’s three main strategic objectives.
Learn more about the Sustainability Committee.
Read the Sustainability Committee Terms of Reference.
Co- Chair
The Sustainability Committee has two co-Chairs who lead the Committee and sit on the Advisory Council.
- One vacancy
- Term of office is two years from January 2027 to December 2028
- Time commitment approximately 10 days per year
- See full role description for further details
This position is appointed by the Board of Trustees, in consultation with the Advisory Council on the recommendation of the Appointments Panel
Elected Members
Elected Members sit on the Sustainability Committee to represent the interests and views of the membership to the Committee.
- Two vacancies
- Term of office is three years from January 2027 to December 2029
- See full role description for further details
These vacancies are elected by the membership.
Other vacancies
There is one additional vacancy available on the Sustainability Committee for a representative from the Early Career Forum. See the Early Career Forum Executive Committee section for details.
Eukaryotic Division
The Eukaryotic Division is one of the four Divisions which plan the scientific content for the Society’s conference and events programme. The Eukaryotic Division aims to promote eukaryotic microbiology in its widest context in fundamental, medical, applied and environmental aspects.
The Chair or Chair-elect of the Division can help and support you with your application. Members interested in joining the Eukaryotic Division are encouraged to email [email protected] to discuss the available roles.
Learn more about the Eukaryotic Division.
Elected Members
The Eukaryotic Division recruits Elected Members to advise on the various areas of experience and expertise within eukaryotic microbiology.
Read the Eukaryotic Division Terms of Reference.
This year, the Eukaryotic Division is inviting applications from any member working in eukaryotic microbiology, but is especially keen to hear from those with knowledge of the following areas Medical Microbiology, Fundamental Microbiology and Applied Microbiology.
- Three vacancies
- Any eukaryotic microbiologist can apply
- Term of office is three years from January 2027 to December 2029
- See full role description for further details
Irish Division
The Irish Division is one of the four Divisions which plan the scientific content for the Society’s conference and events programme. The Irish Division seeks to promote all aspects of microbiology in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The Chair or Chair-elect of the Division can help and support you with your application. Members interested in joining the Irish Division are encouraged to email [email protected] to discuss the available roles.
Learn more about the Irish Division and read the Irish Division Terms of Reference
Elected Members
The Irish Division recruits Elected Members to represent microbiologists from different geographical areas within Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
- Two vacancies
- One from Teagasc, anywhere in the country
- One Northern Ireland
- Term of office is three years from January 2027 to December 2029
- See full role description for further details
These vacancies are elected by the membership.
Other vacancies
There is one additional vacancy available on the Irish Division for a representative from the Early Career Forum. See the Early Career Forum Executive Committee section for details.Prokaryotic Division
The Prokaryotic Division is one of the four Divisions which plan the scientific content for the Society’s conference and events programme. The Prokaryotic Division comprises scientists working in the major areas of bacterial and archaeal microbiology.
The Chair or Chair-elect of the Division can help and support you with your application. Members interested in joining the Prokaryotic Division are encouraged to email [email protected] to discuss the available roles.
Learn more about the Prokaryotic Division and read the Prokaryotic Division Terms of Reference.
Elected Members
- Three vacancies in Clinical Microbiology and/or Prokaryote Genetics
- Term of office is three years from January 2027 to December 2029
- See full role description for further details
These vacancies are elected by the membership.
Virus Division
The Virus Division is one of the four Divisions which plan the scientific content for the Society’s conference and events programme. The Virus Division promotes fundamental studies of the natural history, cellular and molecular biology, immunology and molecular pathogenesis of viruses of all kinds.
The Chair or Chair-elect of the Division can help and support you with your application. Members interested in joining the Virus Division are encouraged to email [email protected] to discuss the available roles.
Learn more about the Virus Division and read the Virus Division Terms of Reference.
Elected Members
- Four vacancies
- Virus Division is inviting applications from any member working in virology, but is especially keen to hear from those with knowledge of Clinical Virology and/or Arboviruses
- Term of office is three years from January 2027 to December 2029
- See full role description for further details
These vacancies are elected by the membership.
Other ways to get involved
As well as the vacancies listed above, there are many other ways you can get involved with the Society and have your say. We have outlined some examples below and you can find out more via our Get Involved page.
Governance Shadowing Scheme
If you would like to know more about what it is like to sit on our governance structure but do not yet want to commit to applying for a full term, you can apply to our Governance Shadowing Scheme to be put in touch with a current member of the governance structure and sit in on one of their meetings.
Read more about the Governance Shadowing Scheme.
Journal Editorial Boards
Recruitment for our journal Editorial Boards runs on a different cycle to the other vacancies across our governance structure. These are advertised on our Voluntary opportunities page.
Society Champions
Champions help to promote microbiology and the Society in their local area by initiating activities and events of their own or participating in Society-led activities.
Find out more about becoming a Champion via our Society Champions page.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are interested in joining our governance and would like more information, we hope the Frequently Asked Questions will help.