The Society of Toxicology (SOT) asks you to promote toxicology through the SOT ToxScholar program. Domestic ToxScholar grants provide funding for visits to primarily undergraduate student audiences at institutions in North America. Many students do not have the opportunity to learn about toxicology as undergraduates. Recruiting a creative and diverse community of toxicologists to strengthen the impact of toxicology is part of the SOT strategic plan.
The ToxScholar provides a toxicology-based lecture relevant for a biology or chemistry course, a seminar series, or a journal club to meet more informally with students to discuss career opportunities. The SOT Introduction to Toxicology slide set provides content you can adapt for your presentation. With approval of the application, costs for travel, refreshments, and other related costs are reimbursable up to $500. The next deadline is October 9.
SOT encourages the ToxScholar to establish relationships with faculty at the visited campus, serving as a point of contact for undergraduate students and faculty by providing information about SOT programs and resources.
Two SOT Committees support this activity, the Education Committee and the Committee on Diversity Initiatives (CDI). The CDI focuses on institutions that have a high proportion of students from groups that are under-represented in the sciences.
Established toxicologists, graduate students, and postdocs all are excellent ToxScholar visitors. If you graduated from a primarily undergraduate institution, you might choose to return to your alma mater for a visit. Your Regional Chapter also is interested in establishing connections for the ToxScholar program, and making local connections provides the opportunity for you to involve students and faculty in your Regional Chapter activities. For assistance in identifying institutions to visit or for more information, contact Rachel Woodson at SOT.
SOT also provides up to $1250 funding for International ToxScholar visits. Applications for those funds also are due October 9. More information and the link to blogs highlighting recent visits are located on the ToxScholar web page.