The Education Award is presented to an individual who is distinguished by the teaching and training of toxicologists and who has made significant contributions to education in the broad field of toxicology.
In recognition of her influential leadership in toxicology education, her dedication to building rigorous and inclusive training environments, and her outstanding mentorship across all trainee levels, B. Paige Lawrence, PhD, is the 2026 recipient of the SOT Education Award.
Dr. Lawrence earned her BA in biology and chemistry with departmental honors from Skidmore College and her PhD in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology with a minor in immunology from Cornell University. She then completed postdoctoral training in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology at Oregon State University before joining the faculty at Washington State University, where she became a tenured associate professor. She was recruited to the University of Rochester Medical Center, where she currently holds the Wright Family Research Professorship and serves as Chair of the Department of Environmental Medicine, Director of the NIEHS-funded Environmental Health Sciences Center, and Founding Director of the Institute for Human Health and the Environment. Across these leadership roles, Dr. Lawrence has been a driving force in strengthening toxicology training and expanding access to interdisciplinary education in environmental health science.
A defining feature of Dr. Lawrence’s impact is her deep and sustained dedication to mentoring. She has mentored over 100 trainees, including undergraduate researchers, master’s and doctoral students, post-baccalaureate scholars, clinical trainees, postdoctoral fellows, and early career faculty. Her mentees have earned competitive fellowships, research awards, and placements in influential positions across academia, government, industry, medicine, and public health. Trainees consistently credit her thoughtful guidance, accessibility, scientific rigor, and strong advocacy as central to their development as independent scholars and professionals. Her excellence in this area has been formally recognized through the University of Rochester Faculty Mentoring Award and the Service Recognition Award for Excellence in Mentoring from SOT Women in Toxicology Special Interest Group.
Dr. Lawrence has also demonstrated outstanding leadership in curriculum development and academic program building. As Director of the Toxicology Graduate and Postdoctoral Training Program from 2011 to 2019, she led two competitive NIEHS T32 renewals before passing the reins to new leaders. She expanded the program’s interdisciplinary curriculum, strengthened student preparation in emerging scientific areas, broadened career-development programming, and created experiential learning opportunities that connect environmental health science with public health and community engagement. Through her leadership at the Environmental Health Sciences Center and the Institute for Human Health and the Environment, she has further advanced educational infrastructure, including initiatives supporting undergraduate summer internships, K–12 outreach, and cross-disciplinary graduate training.
Dr. Lawrence’s influence on toxicology education extends nationally. She has played major roles in NIEHS training grant leadership, served on numerous review panels and external advisory boards that guide the development of high-quality and inclusive research training environments, and supported national initiatives that strengthen the environmental health sciences workforce. Within SOT, she has been an active contributor through service on the Graduate Education Subcommittee, FUTURE Committee, Nominating Committee, and Immunotoxicology Specialty Section Council, as well as through sustained involvement in trainee-focused programming and mentoring at the SOT Annual Meeting.
Through her exceptional mentorship, visionary program leadership, and unwavering commitment to developing the next generation of toxicologists, Dr. Lawrence exemplifies the excellence recognized by the SOT Education Award.
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