The primary role of the Scholar Leadership Council (SLC) is to serve as part of the advisory boards to the NSF ATP-Bio ERC.

The SLC also functions as a service organization, a social club, and a scholar government entity for all scholars of ATP-Bio. The SLC promotes interuniversity and industrial collaboration directly with ATP-Bio scholars, provides scholars with opportunities to conduct outreach programs at their local universities, organizes scholar social events and seminars, and is also responsible for guiding the annual scholar retreat.

Each university nominates one scholar representative to serve on the SLC. The scholar forum members elect individuals to serve in officer roles: Chair (Co-Chairs), Secretary, Treasure, Evaluation Lead, Career Development Lead, Networking Lead, Outreach and Inclusion Lead, and Wellness Lead. The officers may be university representatives, but it is not required. The SLC serves as a liaison between the scholar body and the senior ATP-Bio leadership, voicing concerns and relaying important information between these two groups.