Leading Professional Society for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Connecting, Training, Empowering, Worldwide

ISCB Committees and Advisory Councils

Code of Conduct for Committees

Affiliated Groups Committee

  • Co-CHAIRS: Bruno Gaeta, Daisuke Kihara, Lonnie Welch

The mission of the Affiliates Committee is to foster interactions between the Society and its Affiliated Regional Groups. The Affiliates Committee works with the Board of Directors to establish the procedures for affiliation. It also examines ways in which both partners (the Society and the groups) can mutually benefit from each other, and ways to foster collaboration and networking between affiliates. It is the body to which members of the Affiliated Regional Groups can bring particular concerns and make suggestions for new initiatives.

Audit Committee

  • CHAIR: Bruno Gaeta

The ISCB Audit Committee serves to facilitate the annual financial audit of the Society's financial record keeping and policies and procedures, by responding to any questions or concerns raised by the auditor. The committee will also review the auditor's report, and a representative of the committee will present it to the board for approval.

Awards Committee

  • CHAIR: Teresa Przytycka

The Awards Committee is responsible for the oversight of the ISCB awards program. The committee is charged with advertising, processing, and distributing each award which it oversees; determining proper criteria as set forth by the founders of the awards; reviewing and selecting candidates who best meet the criteria of each award. The committee may also suggest new awards for approval by the ISCB Board of Directors.

Communities of Special Interest (COSI) Committee

  • CHAIR: Janet Kelso

The mission of the COSI Committee is to foster interactions between the Society and its special interest groups. The committee examines applications for new communities of special interest and establishes the relative procedures for the communities. It also examines ways in which both partners (the Society and the communities) can mutually benefit from each other. It is the body to which members of the COSIs can bring particular concerns and make suggestions for new initiatives.

Conferences Advisory Council

  • CHAIR: Janet Kelso

The Conferences Advisory Council is responsible for oversight of ISCB organized and affiliated conferences. The council advises the ISCB Board of Directors on all aspects of the relationship of ISCB to conferences and meetings in the field, including but not limited to the affiliation with existing meetings as well as the initiation of new meetings. The Council formulates general policies regarding the ISCB conference portfolio and is responsible for suggesting new conference directions and approving applications for affiliated conferences. The council is also responsible for making recommendations regarding the sponsorship and advertisement of ISCB at related national and international conferences.

Education Committee

  • Co-CHAIRs: Cath Brooksbank, Nicola Mulder, and Venkata P. Satagopam

The Education Committee promotes worldwide education and training in computational biology as well as serving as a resource and advisor to institutions and industries interested in developing educational programs.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee

  • CHAIRs: Alejandra Medina Rivera, Lucia Peixoto

The EDI serves the ISCB Board of Directors by engaging our shared experiences and promoting a community of respect that honors the humanity of all.

Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee

  • CHAIRs: Terry Gaasterland, Yves Moreau

The Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee (EPC) ensures that ISCB maintains the highest level of integrity in Society activities. The EPC has responsibility for the implementation of the ISCB guidelines and policies, specifically, ISCB’s code of conduct and ethics policies and exhibiting and sponsorship guidelines.  The EPC normally is a reactive committee, entering a dispute by request of a disputant.  However, from time to time it should consider ethical matters that go beyond interpersonal conflict and to make appropriate recommendations to the ISCB Board of Directors. Such considerations may be initiated by others or by the EPC itself.

Executive Committee

  • CHAIR: Christine Orengo

The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Society and the appointed executive director (staff position). The committee meets regularly and shall act for the Society in all matters during the interim periods between meetings of the Board of Directors. The Committee acts in a supervisory function of the Society. It vets and recommends strategic approaches to Society policy and procedures, oversees the work and charters of committees and advisory councils, and monitors changes within the field and activities of the Society.

Fellows Council

The Fellows Council is charged with the selection of the Fellows Selection Committee and the development of an annual Statement highlighting major developments in the field of computational biology for that year. They may also coordinate reviews on selected topics, Fellows workshops or discussions to promote additional Fellow's activities.

Fellows Selection Committee

The role of the Fellows Selection Committee is to execute the ISCB Fellows election process.  The committee shall take into consideration all requirements and criteria that have been established for the ISCB Fellows program (https://www.iscb.org/fellows), while taking into consideration the importance of equity, diversity, and inclusion in representing our scientific field.  The end result of the committee’s work will be the Class of Fellows for the ISCB Board of Directors ratification.

Finances and Business Development Committee

  • CHAIR: Janet Kelso

The Finances and Business Development Committee develops strategies and programs for revenue generation and guidelines for controlling expenses. The Committee liaises with the Treasurer and all other committees over financial matters.

Fundraising Advisory Council

  • CHAIR: Reinhard Schneider

The Fundraising Advisory Council helps the Board carry out its due diligence function related to assuring fiscal health through fundraising. In partnership with the executive director and ISCB president, the council integrates the fundraising process into the Board and Society.

Governance Committee

  • CHAIR: Michelle Brazas

The Governance Committee develops policies and procedures for matters of how the Society leadership governs itself, including but not limited to parliamentary procedure, ethics, code of conduct, and conflict of interest.

Industry Advisory Council

  • CHAIR: Alfonso Valencia

The Industry Advisory Council (IAC) collaborates with the leadership of ISCB in achieving the society’s mission of serving professionals in the field of computational biology and bioinformatics The IAC serves as an advisory body to the ISCB Board of Directors and provides input on future directions and programs for the Society, works to increase the link between ISCB members working in industry and academia, and promotes the Society within the business sector with interests in bioinformatics and computational biology.

Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB) Steering Committee

The Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB) Steering Committee is responsible for the scientific development and strategic direction of ISCB’s flagship meeting, ISMB. Annually, the ISCB president will recommend to the board of directors two ISMB conference chairs. By appointment of the board of directors, the chairs will lead the scientific organization of the conference. The committee shall consist of the two appointed chairs, the ISCB president, executive director, ISMB conferences director, and ISCB conference advisory council chairs. In addition to scientific organization, the steering committee makes recommendations on improving the conference experience, assists with fundraising for the conference, and supports grant funding submissions.

Nominations Committee

  • CHAIR: Nicola Mulder

The Nominations Committee manages and promotes the annual nominations process in preparation for the election of board members, officers, and student council leaders. The committee also runs the annual closed-session board elections, including determining the election process, tallying the votes, and communicating results with all candidates.

Publications Committee

  • CHAIR: Ragothaman M Yennamalli

The Publications Committee is responsible for overseeing Society peer-reviewed journals and publications. It advises the ISCB Board of Directors on matters related to editorial policies, editorial personnel, and publications strategies, including but not limited to the endorsement of journals, books and other publications that may be of interest to members. Committee members may serve a three-year term with the option for renewed terms

Science in Society Committee

  • CHAIR: Thomas Lengauer

The Science in Society Committee promotes the importance of computational biology professions and science communication worldwide.