Join GSAC

The SSE GSAC is looking for three new council members to join our 2026 cohort. Details below!

The GSAC represents student and postdoc interests to the SSE Council and facilitates interaction among students and postdocs, and between students, postdocs, and mentors. Our goal is to be a source of information for students and postdocs during their graduate school career and as they make career transitions, and to provide an early-career perspective to the rest of the SSE council. For example, in 2025 we have organized a Virtual Networking Program, an Evolution Art and Photography Competition and Exhibition, and workshops and networking events at the in-person part of the annual Evolution meeting.

Eligibility & Requirements

GSAC members must be graduate students at the time of application and members of SSE. (Learn more about how to join.) Applicants should be organized, possess leadership skills, and be interested in working with SSE Council and members to contribute to the Society. Many more details about our activities throughout the year can be found in our GSAC blog post originally posted on the SSE Community Blog. 

We strongly encourage those with non-traditional pathways to graduate school, those from non-R1 universities, and those from outside the United States to apply. GSAC is also committed to diverse representation, and we encourage applicants from historically excluded ethnic, gender, and socio-economic backgrounds. 

Duties

Students serve either a 2 or 3 year term, depending on whether they are chair of their cohort, and generally spend 5-10 hours per month on GSAC activities. Please see page 28 in the Officers Handbook for more details about requirements and current roles. 

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the following to GSAC@evolutionsociety.org by July 24, 2025 (any time zone):

 (1) A one page statement of interest, addressing: 

• The ideas you would like to bring to GSAC 
• Your experience with leadership, organization and/or communications 
• Your interest in the Society for the Study of Evolution and motivation for joining GSAC
• How you will contribute to the diversity of perspectives needed to represent the diverse student/postdoc body of SSE  
• Any interactions you have had with SSE, such as attending SSE meetings, events, or work on other SSE committees, if applicable
• That you are a current member of SSE

 (2) A copy of your CV

We look forward to reading your applications, and please contact us at gsac@evolutionsociety.org if you have any questions about this process.

About Student Membership

Students enjoy a reduced rate for SSE membership. Join today!

Advisors can also purchase a 1-year gift membership for their students for just $10. Purchase gift membership.

About the Graduate Student Advisory Committee

The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) represents student and postdoc interests to the SSE Council and facilitates interaction among students and postdocs and between students, postdocs, and mentors. Our goal is to become a source of information for students to use both during their graduate school career and as they make career transitions.

The primary role of all GSAC members is to communicate with the SSE's graduate student and postdoc membership and liaise with the SSE Council on their behalf. One GSAC member per cohort will be chosen to attend Council meetings. GSAC organizes multiple networking and professional development events for the summer Evolution meeting. Secondary roles include maintaining social media accounts to facilitate networking among SSE student members, assisting in the review of Lewontin GREG Award applications, and assisting with initiatives led by other SSE committees. Other roles are continuing to be established, and ideas are welcome! Students will serve either a 2 or 3 year term and generally spend 5-10 hours per month on GSAC activities. Please see the GSAC structural document in the Officers Handbook for more details about requirements and current roles.

Follow GSAC (@SSEgrad) on X/Twitter and Bluesky!

Contact the GSAC Chair at gsac [at] evolutionsociety [dot] org.

Current Members

	Rujuta Vaidya Member 2024-2025, Chair 2025 I am a PhD candidate at Louisiana State University, where I study genetic basis of thermal adaptation in marine invertebrates.
	Haosu (Susu) Cong Member 2023-2025, Chair 2024 I am a PhD candidate in Michigan State University, where I study the evolution of sexual dimorphic mating signals in Drosophila species.
	María Tocora Member 2024-2025 I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto, where I study the evolution and ecology of cooperation between host-microbe and plant-animal species.
	Prothama (Pro) Manna Member 2025-2027, Chair 2026 I am a PhD candidate at Ohio University studying invasive species colonization histories, using demographic simulations, and bioinformatic tools to uncover the ecological and evolutionary drivers of their success.
	Gbolahan Anthony Reis Member 2025-2026 I am a PhD student at Utah State University, studying the ecological and evolutionary responses of species to climate change.
	Mete Yuksel Member 2025-2026 I am a PhD student in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto. I use mathematical models to study patterns, causes, and consequences of recombination rate variation.

Student Awards

Graduate Research Excellence Grants
W.D. Hamilton Award
SSE Presidents' Award for Outstanding Dissertation Paper
Outreach grants
Graduate/Postdoc Travel Awards
International Committee Travel Awards

Past GSAC Members

	Shirley Zhang Member 2024-2025
	Robert Driver Member 2022-2024, Chair 2023		Jill Love Member 2023-2024
	Henry Arenas-Castro Member 2021-2023, Chair 2022		Léonard Dekens Member 2022-2023
	Cathy Hernandez Member 2022-2023		Elizabeth Carlen  Member 2020-2022, Chair 2021
	Emily Laub Member 2021-2022		Sally Chang Member 2019-2021, Chair 2020
	Catherine Chen Member 2020-2021		Erin Giglio Member 2020-2021
	Liz Lange Member 2018-2020, Chair 2019		Andis Arietta Member 2019-2020
	Jodie Wiggins Member 2017-2019, Chair 2018		José Cerca Member 2018-2019
	Melissa Plakke Member 2018-2019		Megan Kobiela Member 2016-2018, Chair 2017
	Daren Card Member 2017-2018		Cathy Rushworth Member 2013-2017, Chair 2013-2016
	Melissa E. Kemp Member 2016-2017		Aide Macias Muñoz Member 2016-2017
	Karl Grieshop Member 2014-2016