Society of Toxicology (SOT) Member Miyun M. Tsai-Turton, PhD, is a pharmacology/toxicology reviewer at the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). She attended her first SOT Annual Meeting in 1999 as a graduate student.
What is your area of work/research?
My area of work is regulatory/government. I am a nonclinical reviewer in the US FDA Division of Bone, Reproductive, and Urologic Products (DBRUP). I joined the US FDA in 2008.
How did you get into toxicology?
I got into toxicology while I was getting my master’s degree in public health. I took several toxicology courses and decided to pursue my doctoral degree in environmental toxicology after that.
What has been your favorite moment or experience while pursuing your scientific career?
My favorite moment was getting to do a platform presentation at the SOT Annual Meeting right before I received my PhD and knowing I would be doing a postdoc training at Johns Hopkins University.
If you were not a scientist, what would you be and why?
If I were not a scientist, I would probably work in the music industry producing music.
Any advice for future scientists?
My advice is to attend meetings like the SOT Annual Meeting regularly—even when you are a graduate student. This not only keeps you current in the scientific world, but also it gives you an opportunity to network.
I also would encourage anyone to be active in professional organizations like SOT. There are many positions people can hold, such as a student or postdoc representative for a Specialty Section. All these experiences will help you further along with your scientific career.
Through #YouTox, the Graduate Student Leadership Committee (GSLC) invites individuals, labs, communities, and organizations to share stories, images, videos, and other media that help shed a light on toxicology and toxicologists. To join the campaign, use #YouTox on social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) or email your submission to Ashley Black, SOT GSLC staff liaison.