Becoming a Member
Membership Categories
Currently the NHSN has over 250 members. The membership categories include Research Scientists, Graduate Students, International Research Scientists, and international graduate students.
Membership Criteria
Research Scientists- Research Scientist Members comprise the core, voting membership of the Network. The Network members meet once a year during the annual conference. The membership represents a diversity of gender, nationality, geographic location, research interests, and disciplines. The criteria for identification and selection of Research Scientist members are:
- Scientist with an active research program
- Affiliated with a research institution
- Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., D.S.W., or comparable doctoral degree
- Expertise in drug abuse research, or in a closely related area with a strong interest in drug abuse research
- Expertise in research with Hispanic populations (applies only to relevant disciplines)
- May be a senior researcher or a promising new investigator
- Demonstrated interest in and commitment to conducting Hispanic drug abuse research, and/or to mentoring students and early career scientists in Hispanic drug abuse research.
Graduate Students- The criteria for identification and selection of graduate student members are:
-
Doctoral level graduate student:
- Enrolled in good standing at an accredited academic institution
- Enrolled in a Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., D.S.W., or comparable doctorate-level program
- Demonstrated interest in Hispanic drug abuse research
- Exceptionally qualified to become an independent research scientist
-
Master's-level graduate student:
- Enrolled in good standing at an accredited academic institution
- Enrolled in a master’s degree program
- Demonstrated interest in Hispanic drug abuse research
- Currently involved in drug abuse research
- Demonstrated outstanding potential to pursue further training at the doctoral level
- Exceptionally qualified to become an independent research scientist
International Research Scientists- International members need to meet the same criteria as listed under Research Scientists. International members will be individuals whose professional activities are directly related to or relevant to U.S. Hispanic drug abuse research. These individuals will provide valuable input to the Network on the critical issues facing Hispanic communities and families, and the most relevant research questions that should be explored.
- Scientists from Latin America or another Spanish-speaking country with an active research program
- Affiliated with a research institution based outside of the United States
- Ph.D., M.D., Ed.D., D.S.W., or a comparable doctoral-level program
- Expertise in drug abuse research, or in a closely related area with a strong interest in drug abuse research
- Expertise in research with Hispanic populations
- May be a senior researcher or a promising new investigator
Organizational Partners- Network Partners are organizations or agencies whose major mission is to conduct research, develop policy, or provide advocacy or direct services to Hispanic communities. These organizations function at the national, regional, or local levels, representing interests and needs related to:
- Hispanic drug abuse research
- Clinical applications of Hispanic drug abuse research
- Policy applications of Hispanic drug abuse research
- Hispanic community needs relevant to drug abuse
Network Partnership provides local, regional, and national organizations with a direct link to the NHSN, the ability to post available positions on the NHSN Web site, and access to Network member expertise for consultation and presentations on state-of-the-science drug abuse prevention and treatment practices with Hispanics. Network Partners contribute to the Network with their own expertise in working with Hispanic families and communities, helping to identify relevant research questions, and funding needs.
Organizations interested in membership will submit an application describing the nature of the organization's mission and scope of work, and their relationship to Hispanic drug abuse science. Organizations that do not fulfill all criteria to become organizational members will be granted Affiliate status. Specific examples include:
- Organizations that do not have an active research program
- Organizations that have an active research program but whose focus is only tangentially related to NHSN's goals and focus
- Organizations that do not have an active research program but that are involved in health care delivery or outreach efforts that are related to drug abuse in the Latino population