USP Volunteers

USP Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. A network of independent experts from academia, industry, regulatory, and healthcare fields, our volunteers work collaboratively to develop and revise USP’s standards to reflect current and emerging technologies, and address evolving public health needs. USP relies on the collaboration of volunteers in the USP standards-setting process. All of USP’s standards are developed and approved by our volunteers.

Farah Towfic at expert committee meeting

Interested in volunteering?

USP seeks volunteers at different times during each 5-year business cycle. Find out how you can becomes a member of our Expert Committees or Expert Panels.

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2025 - 2030 Expert Committees

Each Expert Committee focuses on specific areas that span the work we do to improve health.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Below you'll find frequently asked questions on USP Expert Volunteers.

Who are our Expert Volunteers?

A hallmark of USP’s standards is that they are determined by independent scientific experts. USP Expert Volunteers are selected based on their individual expertise and experience and use their best personal, professional, and scientific judgment to work collaboratively on setting standards. USP Expert Volunteers must agree to disclose conflicts of interest and to uphold standards of conduct that preserve the integrity of the standard setting process.

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Who can apply?

Pharmaceutical scientists, academicians, regulatory professionals, healthcare practitioners, and others who work with medicines and foods are invited to apply.

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Can I apply if I work for a regulatory government agency in the USA or any other country?

Employees of regulatory government agencies may participate in USP’s standards-setting activities in two ways. First, they may serve as government liaisons (GL), representing the interests of their agency. Second, if their agency permits, they may become USP Expert Volunteers, acting as independent experts and adhering to USP’s Standards of Conduct. You should apply to become a USP Volunteer only if your agency permits you to serve in this role. Please note that FDA employees are required to serve only as GLs. If you are interested in serving as a GL, please contact uspvolunteers@usp.org

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How to become a USP Volunteer?

USP launches formal recruitment for expert volunteers in preparation for the start of a new 5-year volunteer cycle. During this time, interested parties can apply to become members of USP's Expert Committees. Pharmaceutical scientists, academicians, regulatory professionals, healthcare practitioners, and others who work with medicines and foods are invited to apply. USP’s Council of Experts, the body that oversees USP's scientific and standards-setting decisions, elects qualified candidates to serve as Expert Committee members. The recruitment for the 2025–2030 cycle is now closed.
Ongoing Opportunities
Throughout the business cycle, qualified candidates with expertise on a particular compendial topic can apply to serve on an Expert Body formed as needed to make recommendations to Expert Committees. Each Expert Body has a specific charge (including scope of work, deliverables, and timeline for completion) and then is dissolved at the conclusion of its work.

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What are USP Expert Committees?

Expert Committees address specific standards-setting areas within USP such as Chemical Medicines, Biologics and Biotechnology, General Chapters, and others. Expert Committee members are elected by the Council of Experts.
Expert Panels are formed to provide additional expertise on a particular compendial topic, thereby supplementing Expert Committee expertise. Expert Panels are intended to provide flexibility and scalability into USP's standards-setting activities and help ensure that USP standards are based on the best scientific knowledge available. They are advisory to one or more Expert Committees; they are not decision-making bodies. An Expert Panel, when formed, will have a specific charge (including scope of work, deliverables, and timeline for completion), and will be dissolved at the conclusion of its work. As such, USP calls for Expert Panel candidates as the need for such bodies arises.

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What are USP's conflict of interest and confidentiality policies?

Maintaining independence and impartiality is critical to the integrity and credibility of USP’s standard-setting activities. Members of the Council of Experts and its Expert Committees are required to submit and keep updated statements disclosing interests that may create actual or perceived conflicts of interests and must abstain from voting on any matter in which they have a conflict. Members of Expert Panels are also required to disclose any actual or perceived conflicts, but Expert Panels may represent an outside interest as long as it is disclosed. USP also has a confidentiality policy to protect third party confidentiality obligations, maintain the confidentiality of proprietary information and prevent the premature disclosure of a standard.  Expert Volunteers must agree to maintain the confidentiality of all information gained in the course of their USP activities and not to use or disclose such information for any purpose, unless already publicly available.

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Rules & Procedures of the 2025–2030 Council of Experts

In accordance with USP Bylaws, these provisions define the standards-setting activities that are the responsibility of the USP Council of Experts. View the 2025-2030 Rules & Procedures for the Council of Experts.

Guidelines

Expert Committee Members Serve as Individual Experts: When volunteers agree to serve on an Expert Committee, they are required to serve USP as individual experts, using their best personal, professional, and scientific judgment, and not serving any outside interest, including that of their employer.

In keeping with this obligation, when Expert Committee members serve on or appear at an Expert Panel or other USP advisory body, they may do so only as a representative of USP (i.e., not on behalf of their employer, or any other outside interest). Similarly, experts are barred from using USP Expert Committee membership in any way that is or appears to be motivated by private gain or outside interest.
Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality: Maintaining independence and impartiality is critical to the integrity and credibility of USP's standards-setting activities.
Expert Volunteers are required to submit and keep updated statements disclosing relevant interests, so that any conflicts that exist or emerge may be identified and managed in a timely way. Expert Volunteers are responsible for notifying USP staff and Expert Body Chairs about any actual or potential conflicts prior to any work on or discussion of any such matters in question. If conflicted, Expert Committee members may not vote on a matter. Expert Panel members and Expert Advisors do not vote, but any recommendations they make will be accompanied by a disclosure of any their conflicts of interest, so that the receiving Expert Committee may properly weigh and consider the input.
All Expert Volunteers must sign a confidentiality agreement requiring them to maintain the confidentiality of information gained in the course of their USP activities. Information obtained at USP may not be used or disclosed for any purpose, unless already publicly available.

For general and technical questions related to volunteering, contact Volunteer Engagement at USPVolunteers@usp.org

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