Jennifer Kubota, associate professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, has been nominated president-elect of the Social and Affective Neuroscience Society (SANS), a leading organization in the neuroscience community. 

SANS provides a community to its members and offers learning opportunities throughout the year, as well as information about relevant career opportunities.

Kubota, who has a dual appointment in the Department of Political Science and International Relations, will serve a three-year commitment. She will serve as vice president for the next year, followed by one year as president and a final year as post-president. 

During her term, Kubota said she would like to focus on four primary goals: expanding SANS membership; advocating for scientists and researchers, especially those focusing on vulnerable communities; supporting students and early career members; and extending the society’s public outreach to convey its important work. 

“Social neuroscience is essential because humans are fundamentally social, and our social world impacts almost everything we do,” she said. “Social neuroscience enhances our understanding of how interactions between the brain and social context influence human thoughts, feelings, actions and health.”

Kubota joined SANS as a graduate student in 2008, the year the organization was founded. She has served on the board of directors since 2022, providing input on key decisions and expertise on matters relevant to the SANS mission and goals. She spent the last year as the chair of the society’s equity, diversity, inclusion and justice committee.