The DHP are currently seeking to appoint an early career researcher to sit on the Standing Conference Scientific Committee (SCSC) for the Division of Health Psychology’s (DHP) 2013 Annual Conference, in Brighton at the Holiday Inn seafront, on 4th-6th September 2012.

This is an important role which involves the evaluation of abstracts submitted to the annual conference and ensuring the scientific quality of the conference. Applicants must be a member of the DHP and currently be either carrying out a PhD in a health psychology related topic, a trainee health psychologist or be in the first 5 years since completing their PhD/Doctorate in Health Psychology.  The position will be for two years.  Other members of the committee include the National Conference Organiser, the Deputy Chair of the DHP, a second early career researcher and two experienced health psychologists. 

The committee has several teleconferences throughout the year and meets in person once – in late March / early April. This meeting is to decide which abstracts are accepted and it is important that appointed members are available to attend this meeting. In addition, the SCSC decides on the structure and content of the Scientific Programme. Those on the SCSC have their conference registration fee paid, accommodation at the conference, travel and conference dinner costs covered.  

The tasks of the SCSC are:
1.	To ensure that the conference scientific programme is of high quality, and to devise ways of attracting international speakers and delegates
2.	To decide on the conference themes 
3.	To develop the conference format – e.g. consideration of special sessions, invited symposia, workshops, discussion groups etc
4.	To ensure that the poster sessions are of good quality and meet the needs of all DHP members
5.	To select and approach potential keynote speakers well in advance of each conference
6.	To judge abstracts (usually in late February/early march), and to decide whether suitable for oral or poster presentation. The standard procedure is for abstracts to be judged blind, each one judged by three members of the SCSC. Judgements are collated by a member of the BPS conference team and then considered at the SCSC meeting
7.	To attend one face to face meeting (usually in late March / early April) to confirm choice of abstracts and to put the conference together (putting oral presentations in symposia, deciding which presentations or symposia should run in parallel with which etc.)
8.	To judge late-breaking abstracts (for posters) in June.


Applicants should provide a) a covering letter stating why they are suitable for the role and the name of one referee b) a two-page curriculum vitae outlining publications, research experience and conference experience and c) a supporting statement from their research supervisor or line manager.

Applications for this position should be emailed to Dr Debbie Smith ([log in to unmask]) no later than the 31st August 2012. The applications will be judged by three members of the SCSC, and a decision communicated in mid September.