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The SOT Committee on Diversity Initiatives (CDI) is seeking volunteers interested in assisting with the 2024 Undergraduate Diversity Program, March 9–11, 2024, in conjunction with the SOT 63rd Annual Meeting and ToxExpo in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Undergraduate Diversity Program provides the opportunity for promising undergraduate science majors interested in research careers to learn about the breadth of toxicology, career opportunities in the field, and the requirements for graduate school.

There are several volunteer roles open to SOT members:

1. Mentor or peer mentor on a continuing basis for the Undergraduate Diversity Program students or for groups of undergraduates only on Sunday morning
2. Leader of a poster group on Monday afternoon
3. Academic program breakout facilitator on Sunday afternoon
4. Career roundtable facilitator on Sunday afternoon.

Details for each role and links to the application forms are available in this blog.

Host and Peer Mentors

The undergraduate students participating in the Undergraduate Diversity Program will be organized into groups, each with a Host Mentor and a Peer Mentor (graduate student or postdoc), who serve as important connectors for these students from Saturday evening through Monday. As they develop rapport with their mentors, students explore questions about toxicology and learn what careers in this field are like, how to succeed, and strategies for work/life balance in science.

CDI will hold a Mentor Orientation webinar in early February that will review mentoring information and tips to help you connect with your group of students in advance.

CDI is also seeking volunteers to serve as a Host Mentor or Peer Mentor only for the Sunday portion that is part of the Undergraduate Education Program, which is open to any undergraduate student who registers for this event on the Annual Meeting Registration Form. Mentors recruited only for Sunday work with undergraduate students who are not part of the Undergraduate Diversity Program.

Individuals interested in participating as mentors are encouraged to complete the brief application form before January 8 to indicate their interest and availability. There are a limited number of mentor positions available, and selections and notifications will be made later in January.

Poster Group Leaders

CDI is also looking for poster group leaders to accompany and support the Undergraduate Diversity Program participants as they attend Scientific Sessions and visit posters on Monday afternoon. Each leader will serve as a facilitator for a group of about five students from 2:30 pm to 3:15 pm.

Individuals interested in volunteering as poster group leaders are encouraged to complete the brief application form before January 8 to indicate their interest and availability. There are a limited number of poster group leader positions; selections and notifications will be made later in January.

Career Roundtable and Graduate School Facilitators

On Sunday, March 10, CDI will hold career roundtables and graduate school breakouts for the undergraduate students participating in the Undergraduate Education Program. For the career roundtables, CDI is seeking career toxicologists in academia, industry, or government who would be interested in talking informally with undergraduates about different career paths and how toxicologists manage work/life balance. For the graduate school breakouts, CDI is looking for academic graduate program advisors and graduate students to informally talk about what life is like in graduate school and how to be successful in applying.

If you are interested in more information or would like to volunteer as a career roundtable or graduate school breakout facilitator, please contact Jenna Pelsey by December 11.

CDI thanks you for your commitment to and interest in supporting the next generation of scientists.

Questions? Contact Jenna Pelsey at SOT Headquarters.

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