
Become a PDA Event Student Volunteer with Unique Benefits
Calling All Student Members: Volunteer for a PDA Conference or Event and Attend for Free.
Join PDA and Apply NowPDA GPS Student Experience at PDA Week 2026
22-27 March | Denver, CO
Join the PDA GPS Student Experience to grow your professional network, strengthen your resume, and gain real-world insight into careers in pharmaceutical science and regulation. LIMITED TO 24 SLOTS
What’s included
- Complimentary registration to PDA Week 2026
- Hands-on volunteering opportunities
- Access to sessions and networking events
- Mentorship program — connect with industry mentors through a mentor meet-up session, lunch chats, and an introduction to GPS
- Exhibit Hall Tour — meet the exhibitors driving pharma and life sciences
- Poster Tour – take a guided walk through the poster presentations and explore emerging research
Important Dates
- Application opens: 01 December 2025
- Application deadline: 31 January 2026
Questions? Contact PDA at programs@pda.org
Your Opportunity
The Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) offers its student members the opportunity to become volunteers at PDA’s conferences and events.
With free registration, student volunteers can attend any of PDA’s conferences and regional events. As a volunteer, you can immerse yourself in stimulating content and networking activities, help PDA ensure the conference or event is a high-quality experience for all presenters, exhibitors and attendees, and expand your professional network.
About PDA’s Conferences and Regional Events
PDA’s conferences and events are the preeminent world-recognized venues for bringing together experts from across their industries to share real-world practical case studies, groundbreaking innovations, thought-provoking plenaries and sessions, and connections to local chapter members and their companies.
Contact PDA Membership
For questions or assistance with your membership, please reach out to us:
- Email: membership@pda.org
- Phone: (301) 656-5900
- Membership Contact Form
PDA GPS Student Experience
Support PDA Global Pharmaceutical Student Network (GPS) . Your donation helps fund valuable programs for students in the pharmaceutical industry.
Donate NowBenefits of Volunteering
Students accepted as volunteers for PDA's conferences and events can benefit from unique opportunities:
- Network with professionals representing prestigious companies across the international pharmaceutical spectrum.
- Spend time with selected industry experts to seek advice and mentorship.
- Learn from conference and event content, interest group meetings, roundtables, plenaries, mini-trainings, and workshops (not all options are available at all conferences or events).
- Meet up with companies and organizations exhibiting at conferences and events.
- Attend local chapter receptions and scheduled social events.
- Take advantage of working meals offered at selected conferences and events to deepen your knowledge and expand your connections.
Plus, there's more.
PDA GPS Student Experience
PDA's GPS Student Experience coordinates and schedules a variety of on-site programs and activities for students who volunteer their time to assist PDA staff with conferences and events.
Some of the activities offered at PDA's conferences and events include:
- Meet-and-greets with conference and event program planning committee members
- Meet-and-greets with PDA board members, PDA staff and local chapter leadership
- Valuable insights from exhibit hall tours
- Previews of cutting-edge innovations with poster tours and introductions to poster presenters
Exclusive debriefs with a dedicated professional mentor.
Student Volunteer Requirements
- Students must complete the entire application, including selection of session/time block availabilities.
- Volunteers must be PDA student members in good standing.
- Volunteers are limited to 2 PDA conferences/events across their academic career.
- Volunteers must cover their own travel expenses including on-site expenses (ex., meals, local travel, and hotel).
- Students accepted by PDA as volunteers must use the special registration code provided by PDA to receive free registration.
- Student volunteers must meet daily on-site with the volunteer student staff lead and their dedicated industry professional mentor.
- Actively promote GPS Network before, during, and after the event.
On-Site Contributions at the Conference/Event
- Volunteers assist PDA staff with:
- Participate as human signage/greeters during scheduled hours.
- Assist with creating content for PDA articles.
- Be available to record testimonial videos about your experience.
Free Rates for Students
We're dedicated to providing affordable access to PDA member benefits for students. Undergraduate and Graduate students are eligible for free membership. Apply today.
Are you a high school student interested in joining PDA? Contact the PDA membership department to let us know.
Essential Tier
Essential Tier membership includes these exclusive benefits: PDA Member Directory, vote in PDA elections and on proposed bylaws changes, PDA Letter Online, PDA Connect, PDA Volunteer Opportunities, and Members-Only Discounts.
Plus Tier
Plus Tier membership includes all the benefits of Essential membership plus: access to the PDA Technical Publications Portal where you can view and annotate the full collection of PDA Technical Reports and Points to Consider, and the current and previous volume year of the PDA Journal.
Premium Tier
Premium Tier membership includes all the benefits of Essential and Plus membership plus: Download new Technical Reports, Surveys, and Points to Consider for free within 30 days of publication, earn one free technical publication of your choice from the PDA bookstore per year, and unlimited access to the full archive of the PDA Journal.

Start a Student Chapter
All students, regardless of membership status, can start a student chapter on their campus.
Reach out to us at chapters@pda.org to learn more.
Learn MoreBecome a Student Event Volunteer
Apply to become a student event volunteer to expand your professional network, gain access to conferences, events, and plenaries, and receive dedicated on-site mentorship.
Join PDA and Apply Today