Officer Positions
Interested in joining the PLU board? We have many positions available! Board recruitment typically happens in mid-July. Any students who have passed their qualifying exams are eligible to join PLU as a member and serve on the board.
President or Co-presidents
The PLU President is responsible for setting the agenda off the organization, representing the organization to the department, recruiting new PLU members, coordinating board meetings, planning the Marple-Schweitzer Memorial Lecture, and organizing Meet-The-Speaker lunches for Chemistry Department colloquia.
Vice President
The PLU Vice President is responsible for coordinating career development events. In addition, the vice president acts as the PLU Chemistry Department Representative at the Graduate Student Association (GSA) Department Representatives quarterly meetings.
Treasurer
The PLU Treasurer is responsible for keeping track of the organization’s budget and communicating with the chemistry department staff and business office to facilitate purchases for the organization.
Secretary
The PLU Secretary is responsible for recording notes of PLU board meetings, maintaining the PLU website, running PLU social media accounts, and helping the PLU President organize Marple-Schweitzer Memorial Lectures and Meet-The-Speaker lunches for Chemistry Department colloquia.
Awards Chair
The PLU Awards Chair is responsible for advertising PLU awards (e.g., Travel Grants, TA Awards, Lambert Award, Gelewitz Awards) and organizing committees to select award winners. The Lambert Award is a third-year award that is partially based on qualifying exams and the Gelewitz Awards are a research award for senior graduate students.
Social Chairs (2)
The PLU social chairs are responsible for advertising, planning, and running quarterly department-wide socials.
Service Chairs (2)
The PLU Service Chairs are responsible for running the Science In The Classroom (SITC) outreach program to Hayt Elementary School. This includes recruiting and coordinating volunteers, writing and editing lessons, gathering supplies, and coordinating with Hayt Elementary School. The PLU Social Chairs also are responsible for organizing the annual food and clothing drive.
Time Commitment: PLU has board meetings every other week that last 30 min - 1 h. Additional service is required to complete duties for each board position (varies by position, but on average 1 h per week or less)
The PLU President is responsible for setting the agenda off the organization, representing the organization to the department, recruiting new PLU members, coordinating board meetings, planning the Marple-Schweitzer Memorial Lecture, and organizing Meet-The-Speaker lunches for Chemistry Department colloquia.
Vice President
The PLU Vice President is responsible for coordinating career development events. In addition, the vice president acts as the PLU Chemistry Department Representative at the Graduate Student Association (GSA) Department Representatives quarterly meetings.
Treasurer
The PLU Treasurer is responsible for keeping track of the organization’s budget and communicating with the chemistry department staff and business office to facilitate purchases for the organization.
Secretary
The PLU Secretary is responsible for recording notes of PLU board meetings, maintaining the PLU website, running PLU social media accounts, and helping the PLU President organize Marple-Schweitzer Memorial Lectures and Meet-The-Speaker lunches for Chemistry Department colloquia.
Awards Chair
The PLU Awards Chair is responsible for advertising PLU awards (e.g., Travel Grants, TA Awards, Lambert Award, Gelewitz Awards) and organizing committees to select award winners. The Lambert Award is a third-year award that is partially based on qualifying exams and the Gelewitz Awards are a research award for senior graduate students.
Social Chairs (2)
The PLU social chairs are responsible for advertising, planning, and running quarterly department-wide socials.
Service Chairs (2)
The PLU Service Chairs are responsible for running the Science In The Classroom (SITC) outreach program to Hayt Elementary School. This includes recruiting and coordinating volunteers, writing and editing lessons, gathering supplies, and coordinating with Hayt Elementary School. The PLU Social Chairs also are responsible for organizing the annual food and clothing drive.
Time Commitment: PLU has board meetings every other week that last 30 min - 1 h. Additional service is required to complete duties for each board position (varies by position, but on average 1 h per week or less)