ARTICLE III - Membership

Section 3.1. Categories of Membership. The Society will have four categories of members designated as Regular, Trainee, Honorary and Emeritus members. Certificates of membership evidencing membership in such classes will be issued by The Society.

Section 3.2. Qualifications of Members. Those eligible for membership shall be investigators who have contributed to the advancement of knowledge in the area of psychoneuroimmunology research. There will be no restriction because of place of birth, nationality, residence, sex, race or creed. The qualifications and rights of members of The Society are as follows:

3.2.1. Regular Members will consist of those persons with doctoral degrees who have already demonstrated significant clinical or basic research contributions to the area of behavioral, neural, endocrine and immune interactions by having published a minimum of three papers within the last 5 years, one of which may be a review or chapter. However, if an applicant has demonstrated commitment to the field of PNI, e.g., attends the annual meeting, works in the area as a physician or nurse, etc., but does not fulfill the advanced degree or publication requirements, the membership committee will consider and review the application for regular membership.

3.2.2. Trainee Members (Trainees) will consist of pre- and post-doctoral (up to three years post-degree) students, medical students, and resident physicians who are conducting active research in an aspect of psychoneuroimmunology. Recommendation by the student's dissertation committee chair or primary research mentor is required. If the chair or mentor is not a member of The Society, additional recommendation by a
member will be required. Following completion of pre- or post-doctoral training, a Trainee will become a provisional Regular Member; however, he or she will then have three years to fulfill the qualifications for Regular Membership. If the requirements outlined above (Sec 3.2.1) are not met, the provisional regular member will be denied continued membership in The Society until such time as an application for reinstatement is made and acted upon by the Membership Committee and by Council as specified in Sec. 3.5.

3.2.3. Honorary Members are individuals who, although not active in research in the field, have made meaningful contributions to its progress through administrative channels, public or private granting agencies, public or professional education, or philanthropy.

3.2.4. Emeritus Members will be persons who have been Regular Members for at least five years, are no longer actively engaged in research, wish to maintain an interest in the field, and are approved by a majority vote of the council.

3.3. Voting Members. Each member of the Regular and Emeritus class of membership will be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of members. No other classes of members will have voting rights, although they will have the privilege of attending business meetings of the society.

3.4 Termination of membership - failure to pay dues for 3 consecutive years shall annul the membership.

3.5 Reinstatement of membership - any member whose membership is terminated may be reinstated by the council, upon resolution of the reason(s), including payment of back dues, for removal from membership.