A huge shoutout to the 100+ SOT member volunteers who made the undergraduate activities at the SOT 65th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo a fantastic success! Your dedication to fostering the next generation of toxicologists is truly inspiring. To relive the highlights, be sure to check out the SOT Annual Meeting photo gallery for snapshots of our time together.
Students talk with program representatives
during the Open Time with Academic Toxicology
Program Directors, Internship Sponsors,
and SOT Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
A Packed Weekend of Learning and Building Connections
The energy this year was incredible, with over 200 undergraduate students registered for the meeting. About half of these students kicked off their experience on Sunday, March 22, with the Undergraduate Education Program. SOT President Cynthia Rider welcomed the students, encouraging them to deepen their understanding of toxicology, explore graduate study opportunities, and envision their future careers within our field.
Engaging Science and Active Learning
Our students benefited from the expertise of Natalie Johnson, Corie Ellison, and Joe Zagorski, who introduced diverse subfields of toxicology with their research presentations. The learning stayed hands-on as John Wise Sr. and Mindy Reynolds led an interactive case study focusing on heavy metal accumulation in whales and alligators, which showed environmental toxicology in action.
Grad School Prep and Career Pathways
The afternoon shifted toward professional development with Graduate School Breakouts and Career Roundtables.
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Graduate School Guidance: Facilitators, including Eliane El Hayek, Johnny Wise, Rosemarie de la Rosa, Jonathan Shannahan, and Alexandra Noel, alongside graduate students Md Abu Eabrahim Siddique, Jenielle Domaoal, Alec Kramer, Charlotte McVeigh, and John Hoang, provided essential information about graduate school applications and the graduate student experience.
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2026 Undergraduate Development Program cohort
Career Insights: Students engaged with representatives across sectors, including Patrick Allard, Frederick Ekuban, Julie Hall, Marie Hargrove, Jessica Hartman, Zakiyah Henry, Betina Lew, Anna Kalashnikova, Rachel Nguyen, Ashwini Phadnis-Moghe, JohnPatrick Rogers, Alessandro Venosa, Terra Vincent-Hall, Evelyn Zirena, and Leah Zorrilla.
The day concluded with an Open Time with Academic Toxicology Program Directors, Internship Sponsors, and SOT Special Interest Groups (SIGs), where students networked with representatives from approximately 30 academic programs. They also explored our Society’s vibrant communities by connecting with Special Interest Groups, including the Arab Toxicologists Association (ATA), Association of Scientists of Indian Origin (ASIO), Hispanic Organization of Toxicologists (HOT), Toxicologists of African Origin (TAO), and Women in Toxicology (WIT).
Mentors and students at the UDP Opening Event
The Undergraduate Development Program: A Transformative Experience
From March 21 to 23, the Undergraduate Development Program (UDP) provided a deep dive into toxicology for 29 students and five faculty advisors.
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Saturday Night: The program opened with a ToxSquad icebreaker and a fundamental toxicology session led by Marie Hargrove. This was followed by the UDP Reunion, where alumni and friends of the program connected and celebrated the 2026 Perry J. Gehring Diversity Student Travel Award recipients: Jayla Barkley and Mario Ramirez.
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Monday: Mentors guided students through the Opening Plenary Lecture, Poster Sessions, and the In Vitro Toxicology Lecture and Luncheon. The program reached an empowering conclusion with Anne Chappelle’s career talk “Poison Your Career.”
Mentors: The Heart of the Program
The success of the UDP relies heavily on personalized mentorship. Each group of five students was paired with a Host Mentor and Peer Mentor to provide guidance throughout the meeting.
Special thanks to our UDP Host Mentors: Frederick Ekuban, Courtni Newsome, Jennifer Newell-Caito, Johnny Wise, Evelyn Zirena, and Katie Zychowski.
Recognition also goes to our UDP Peer Mentors: Samuel Cochran, Natalie Eppler, John Hoang, Antonio Saporito, Md Abu Eabrahim Siddique, and Alexandra Svetlik.
We also extend our gratitude to the dozens of additional mentors who supported our Sunday program participants. Your commitment is the backbone of these initiatives
Chatting over pizza at the
Undergrad Gab with a Grad over Grub event
Pizza and Gabbing about Grad School
On Tuesday, March 24, the SOT Initiatives for Development and Engagement Committee (IDEC) hosted the popular Undergrad Gab with a Grad over Grub event. This informal session allowed undergraduates to ask candid questions about the grad school experience while enjoying pizza with current SOT graduate students. We are so grateful to the 24 graduate student volunteers who shared their time and insights with these aspiring scientists.
Thank You to Our Volunteers & IDEC Members
These programs are a monumental team effort. We want to thank Co-Chair Dahea You and all IDEC members, our postdoctoral and graduate student representatives, and our Council contacts, Agnes Karmaus and Jennifer Rayner, for their tireless leadership.
The Impact: A Launchpad for Future Toxicologists
For many, these programs are a turning point. We often see our undergraduate participants return as graduate students and, eventually, as SOT leaders. Thank you to everyone who made this year a success.
We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio for the 2027 program!
Keep an eye out for the call for volunteers, which will go out in November 2026.
“I gained a clearer image of how to approach graduate studies and what to expect. I’ve learned about having more confidence, how to formulate scientific inquiries, and how to take advantage of and utilize your network.” —2026 Undergraduate Development Program Student Travel Award Recipient
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