Committee Service

Committee members play a critical role in providing FDLI with subject-matter and editorial advisory expertise.

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Application Timeline

Applications are now open for 2027 FDLI Committee Service! FDLI committee members play key roles in shaping our programming, publications, and strategic direction—all while collaborating with their peers, showcasing their professional expertise, and making a real impact on the food and drug law community. 

Explore the different committees below and find the perfect fit for you. The application period will close on September 11, 2026.

Committees

The Academic Advisory Committee advises FDLI staff on how to best attract and engage our academic members and their programs with FDLI and identifies areas for scholarly programming. The committee meets approximately quarterly.

The Advertising and Promotion for Medical Products Planning Committee supports FDLI staff in planning this event, which typically takes place in October. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, evaluating conference submissions, recommending and recruiting speakers (including keynotes), and promoting the program to colleagues.

The Austern Writing Awards Committee contributes to fostering the next generation of professionals in the food and drug law field by judging scholarly submissions from JD students. Papers to be judged cover all areas of law affecting FDA-regulated industries. The judging period takes place from June through October, after which the committee meets virtually to discuss and determine the winners of the competition.

The Enforcement, Litigation, and Compliance Conference Planning Committee supports FDLI staff in planning this event, which typically takes place in early to mid-December. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, evaluating conference submissions, recommending and recruiting speakers (including keynotes), and promoting the program to colleagues.

The FDLI at the Forefront Committee supports FDLI staff in identifying and assessing program opportunities related to important developments and emerging issues for all FDA-regulated products. These programs may occur throughout the year and will typically be in the form of a webinar, but also includes half-day programs and conferences. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, advising on program format, evaluating webinar proposals, recommending and recruiting speakers, and promoting programs to colleagues.

The FDLI Forward Committee supports FDLI staff in promoting and celebrating an inclusive environment in the food and drug law profession. Responsibilities include ensuring the organization’s inclusivity values are reflected in our programs, speakers, and authors as well as assisting in the implementation of FDLI’s initiative to diversify the pipeline of food and drug lawyers.

The Food Advertising, Labeling, and Litigation Conference Planning Committee supports FDLI staff in planning this event, which typically takes place in mid- to late-September. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, evaluating conference submissions, recommending and recruiting speakers (including keynotes), and promoting the program to colleagues.

The Food and Dietary Supplement Safety and Regulation Conference Planning Committee supports FDLI staff in planning this event. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, evaluating conference submissions, recommending and recruiting speakers (including keynotes), and promoting the program to colleagues. The committee will begin its work in April.

The New to FDA Law and Regulation Planning Committee supports FDLI staff in developing programming for those new to FDA-regulated fields (generally within the first seven years of their career). Programming covers a wide range of topics, including recent regulatory developments, career building, and interacting with government agencies, plus networking opportunities for in-person events. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, developing in-person and virtual programs, recommending and recruiting speakers, and promoting programs to colleagues.

The Patient Organization Engagement Committee supports FDLI staff in planning its training course that assists patient organizations in understanding FDA regulations and interacting with the agency. This training course is virtual and typically takes place in February. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, developing the agenda, recommending and recruiting speakers, and identifying patient organization partners.

The Tobacco and Nicotine Programs Committee supports FDLI staff in developing programming in this space. This includes both the Tobacco and Nicotine Products Regulation and Policy Conference and Regulatory Science Symposium, both of which typically take place in late October. It also includes any additional tobacco and nicotine product-focused programming, including webinars and panels at events covering broader product areas. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, evaluating conference submissions, recommending and recruiting speakers (including keynotes), and promoting the program to colleagues.

The Update Magazine Peer Review Committee provides manuscript review and editorial feedback of articles submitted for consideration in Update magazine, a virtual magazine that reports on analysis and trends in food and drug law. The committee works independently to provide substantive feedback and publication recommendation on the articles.

Task Forces

The Cannabis-Derived Products Task Force supports FDLI staff in developing programming in this space. This includes cannabis-specific events, which may occur throughout the year in the form of a webinar, half-day program, or conference, and cannabis-focused content for events covering broader product areas. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, developing agendas, recommending and recruiting speakers, and promoting programs to colleagues. Note that task force members are allowed to simultaneously serve on an FDLI committee.

The Cosmetics Task Force supports FDLI staff in developing programming in this space. This includes cosmetics-specific events, which may occur throughout the year in the form of a webinar, half-day program, or conference, and cosmetics-focused content for events covering broader product areas. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, developing conference agendas, recommending and recruiting speakers, and promoting programs to colleagues. Note that task force members are allowed to simultaneously serve on an FDLI committee.

The Veterinary Products Task Force supports FDLI staff in developing programming in this space. This includes veterinary product-specific events, which may occur throughout the year in the form of a webinar, half-day program, or conference, and veterinary product-focused content for events covering broader product areas. Responsibilities include identifying key issues and hot topics, developing conference agendas, recommending and recruiting speakers, and promoting programs to colleagues. Note that task force members are allowed to simultaneously serve on an FDLI committee.

Expectations for FDLI Committee Service

Prerequisites

Must be an FDLI member or government employee*

Time Commitment

5-15 hours per year**

Term Length

One year, typically January to December***

Meeting Format

All virtual, typically video conference, phone, or email

*Committee members must be FDLI members unless they are current government employees. If you believe a unique qualification or circumstance warrants an exception, please contact the membership team at [email protected]. Please Note: Government employees are assumed to be applying in their official capacity and may have internal approval processes that must be completed before final acceptance of an invitation to serve on a committee.

**For conference-specific committees, this commitment is typically concentrated in the six months prior to the event date.

***Committee members can serve consecutive terms, but are asked to re-apply each year. Committee membership is generally limited to two consecutive terms on the same committee. Committee members are encouraged to apply for different committees after serving two terms.

FDLI Forward

As a membership organization, FDLI is committed to supporting, promoting, and celebrating an inclusive environment in the food and drug law profession. The FDLI Board of Directors affirms that all members and professionals within the field are valued, respected, and included in our community. Via FDLI Forward, we seek to promote inclusivity not only within FDLI’s organizational positions, including member committee leadership/membership, speaking and author roles, and staff, but also in the pipeline of emerging food and drug law professionals in our work with graduate schools, law schools, and students.

Inclusivity is our accelerator as, together, we drive FDLI Forward to deliver on its mission.

FAQ

Yes, we encourage you to apply to any committee for which your expertise is relevant. Please submit separate applications for each committee, noting relevant expertise/experience.

Applicants must apply on behalf of themselves. If there is someone who you think would be well suited for FDLI committee service, we encourage you to share the application link (fdli.org/committees) with that individual.

Committee members must be FDLI members unless they are current government employees. If you believe a unique qualification or circumstance warrants an exception, please contact the membership team at [email protected].

The majority of FDLI committees are seeking applications for 2026 service. A full list is available here.

Questions?