The most wonderful time of the year for toxicologists, the SOT Annual Meeting, is fast approaching! Each year, more than 6,000 people from all over the world convene in a different US city for an exciting week of learning and networking. This year the meeting will return to Baltimore, Maryland. Attending the Annual Meeting as a graduate student is a great opportunity for professional development. Below are five ways to help trainees maximize their SOT Annual Meeting experience.
Plan Ahead
The key to maximizing your experience at the SOT Annual Meeting is to plan ahead. Download the SOT Event App on your phone. The app allows you to create a personalized conference schedule by marking sessions and activities that are of interest to you. You also can share your contact information and connect with new colleagues and potential collaborators directly in the app. If you’re interested in meeting a particular individual, reach out before the conference and ask to set up an informational interview. Grabbing a cup of coffee with an expert in your field is a great way to learn about career pathways as well as an opportunity to make new connections.
Get Recommendations
Ask labmates or program colleagues what their favorite SOT sessions were last year. They may offer insight into meeting activities you may not have considered.
Diversify Your Sessions
Don’t be afraid to leave a session early to attend another talk or session. SOT has more than 100 Featured and Scientific Sessions and 2,100 abstract presentations, and attending multiple talks and posters throughout the day is expected. Beyond presentations, consider also signing up for Continuing Education courses and/or Workshops. The annual In Vitro Toxicology Lecture and Luncheon, for example, is a fantastic learning experience for trainees. The Annual Meeting also boasts a number of Specialty Section (SS)– and Specialty Interest Group (SIG)–sponsored workshops that are of interest to trainees. For instance, the Women in Toxicology SIG is hosting a salary negotiation workshop during this year’s meeting. These additional education experiences can help you stay up-to-date on the latest research in your field of study, expose you to a different area of research or techniques, and develop important soft career skills.
Network, Network, Network
Networking also is a major component of the SOT Annual Meeting and is essential for graduate students. Keep your eyes open for events catered toward trainees. The SOT Mentoring Breakfast focuses on helping scientists of all career stages find mentors. Many Specialty Sections also offer mentoring events where you can meet scientists from various backgrounds and ask questions in a smaller setting. Furthermore, the SOT Student/Postdoctoral Scholar Mixer is a great opportunity to meet postdocs and graduate students from around the world. With all these potential opportunities for networking, it is important to make sure you have business cards with your contact information ready to hand out. You never know—you might strike up a conversation with your future employer on the escalator! Before the meeting also is a great time to update your research bio, experiences, or accomplishments on your LinkedIn profile. Adding people you interact with during the meeting on LinkedIn is a great way to stay in touch after the conference.
Pack Appropriately
Put your best foot forward with professional attire and comfortable dress shoes. If you plan on interviewing for internships or jobs at the Annual Meeting, you should consider packing a suit for extra polish. Comfortable shoes are a must because you’re going to exceed your daily step goal walking across the convention center each day. Lastly, if you’re traveling to Baltimore from a warmer climate, check the forecast before you leave and pack a few pieces to layer with (e.g., sweater, jacket, thermals, coat). While the average high for Baltimore in March is 55°F, the highs were in the 30s during the 2017 SOT Annual Meeting and accompanied with snow.
Attending the SOT Annual Meeting as a trainee is a great opportunity. Incorporating these suggestions into your conference “game plan” will help you make the most out of your Annual Meeting experience. See you in Baltimore!