SLAS

As we approach the end of our term, we are inviting expressions of interest from prospective committee members for 2026/27.

 

PILAS (Postgraduates in Latin American Studies) is the postgraduate affiliate of the Society for Latin American Studies (SLAS). Run by and for postgraduate students across the UK, PILAS supports those working on Latin America across all disciplines. We are committed to fostering an interactive, inclusive, and supportive community for postgraduate researchers.

 

Details of our previous activities can be found on our website and social media channels: Instagram, Bluesky and Twitter/X 

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Our Aims and Objectives

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• Work with the SLAS committee and advise on matters affecting postgraduate students

• Continue to grow the visibility of PILAS as the postgraduate affiliate of SLAS

• Offer an accessible and supportive community to postgraduate researchers

• Organise events throughout the year, including the annual PILAS conference​

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Committee Structure

We are looking for six committee members to begin their roles on 1st September 2026. The committee will consist of:

• President

• Treasurer

• Secretary

• Conference Secretary (one or more positions)

• Social Media and Communications Officer

• Ordinary Committee Members (flexible portfolio such as events or workshops)

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Roles and Responsibilities

While each role has specific responsibilities, all committee members work closely together across all activities. In particular, the organisation and delivery of the annual PILAS conference is a shared effort, with all members contributing to tasks such as reviewing abstracts, organising panels, and supporting the event on the day.

 

Roles are flexible and collaborative, and responsibilities may be shared or adapted depending on the strengths, interests, and availability of the committee.

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President

• Oversees the overall direction and activities of PILAS

• Represents PILAS on the SLAS committee

• Supports and coordinates the work of all committee members

• Helps ensure smooth collaboration across roles and activities

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Treasurer

• Manages the PILAS budget and finances

• Prepares costings for events and funding proposals

• Works with the SLAS Treasurer to ensure funds are managed in line with SLAS policies

• Supports budgeting and logistics for events, including the annual conference

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Secretary

• Organises and schedules meetings and takes minutes

• Manages official communications, including the PILAS email account

• Maintains records and ensures continuity between committees

• Works closely with the Social Media & Communications Officer to ensure consistency across PILAS communications

• Provides light oversight and coordination of external communications to maintain continuity, without this being a managerial role

• May be responsible for social media and communications in cases where there is no designated Social Media & Communications Officer 

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Conference Secretary (one or more positions)

• Leads on coordinating the annual PILAS conference

• This role may be shared between more than one person

• Oversees timelines, communications, and logistics

• Works closely with the full committee, as all members contribute to reviewing abstracts, organising panels, and delivering the conference

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Social Media and Communications Officer

• Leads on PILAS’s online presence, including social media platforms and website updates

• Designs and shares promotional materials for events (e.g. using tools such as Wix, Canva, or similar)

• Develops visual content and helps maintain a consistent and engaging online identity

• Ideally (but not necessarily) has experience or interest in social media, design, or creative work

• Works collaboratively with the Secretary to align messaging and communications, while retaining creative input and autonomy in content production

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Ordinary Committee Member

• Takes on specific responsibilities such as events coordination or workshops

• Supports the organisation of events throughout the year

• Contributes fully to the planning and delivery of the annual conference

• May support or take on social media and communications responsibilities in cases where there is no designated Social Media and Communications Officer 

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Additional Consideration

As the 2027 PILAS Conference will be hosted in Newcastle, we particularly encourage expressions of interest from postgraduate researchers based at (or familiar with) the host institution. Having a committee member with knowledge of the university will be especially valuable in supporting the planning and delivery of the conference.

This is not a requirement, and we warmly welcome applications from PGRs across all UK institutions.

 

Who Can Apply

Applicants should be postgraduate researchers (PGRs) based at UK institutions with an interest in Latin American Studies.

 

How to Apply

To express your interest, please fill out the form https://forms.gle/pZ4ZVEbvVwJxbGcW6 or 

 please contact us at pilascontact@gmail.com, indicating which role you would be interested in undertaking. 

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We will review expressions of interest and contact applicants in mid-August with further information regarding the next steps. 

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