Single-Cell (SinCell) LATAM Community – Terms of Reference

2. Membership Eligibility

Membership is open to:

• Researchers and scientists based in Latin America; and
• Researchers and scientists outside Latin America who have active collaborations or initiatives in the region (e.g., diaspora or formal partnerships).

Members must demonstrate a genuine research interest in single-cell biology.

3. Membership Pathways

• Automatic inclusion: Participants of past single-cell courses in Rio, Colombia, and Costa Rica.
• Extended inclusion: Participants of other Latin American courses (e.g., cancer genomics, organoids) who have expressed interest in single-cell.
• Referral system: Each member may nominate one new person per year.
• Direct application: Researchers from groups that have not previously had a participant in any Wellcome Connecting Science single-cell course may request membership directly; applications will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

4. Membership Principles

• The community prioritizes Latin American participation and leadership, while also welcoming the diaspora and active collaborators.
• Members are expected to engage actively—for example, by introducing themselves on the learning platform, and optionally giving a short (3-minute) presentation in a webinar or special session.

5. Code of Conduct & Behavior

• Members are expected to uphold high standards of professional conduct.
• The community is non-commercial.
• All members should contribute to maintaining an inclusive, respectful, and collaborative environment.
• Breaches of conduct may result in suspension or removal from the community.

6. Membership Management

• The steering group reserves the right to approve, deny, or remove memberships in order to maintain the integrity of the community.
• Membership carries a cost, so admission should be meaningful and justified.
• Community size will be monitored to ensure manageability and effective communication.