The Society of Toxicology (SOT) is pleased to welcome a large number of Undergraduate Students to the 56th Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. Special recognition will be given to participants in the Undergraduate Diversity Program and the Pfizer SOT Award recipients. SOT Committees have developed many opportunities for students to enrich their experience at the SOT Annual Meeting.
The Committee on Diversity Initiatives (CDI) welcomes 36 outstanding Undergraduate Students and five Advisors from institutions across the country to Baltimore. Students and faculty advisors selected for this award by the CDI receive travel and lodging to attend the three-day Undergraduate Diversity Program at the start of the SOT Annual Meeting. This program includes introductory toxicology lectures, participation in mentoring groups, opportunities to meet with academic program directors and toxicologists from different employment sectors as well as attending Annual Meeting sessions.
It takes a tremendous effort every year from the dedicated volunteers—committee members, presenters, toxicologist host mentors, student/postdoctoral peer mentors, faculty and research mentors, and others who give their time so generously to support the program and inspire the next generation of young scientists.
On Sunday, the CDI hosts any undergraduate who has registered to attend the meeting and has signed up for the Sunday Undergraduate Education Program. The Sunday activities include special toxicology lectures, breakout sessions to learn about graduate school, career roundtables in toxicology, and taking part in a session to meet Academic Program Directors and Internship Hosts from programs across the nation.
Among the Sunday participants are 23 distinguished Pfizer SOT Undergraduate Travel Award recipients who received travel funding to present their abstracts at the SOT Annual Meeting. These students, selected by the Education Committee, receive travel and lodging support for the full meeting interval, are recognized at the Awards Ceremony, and have a Pfizer mentor.
Undergraduate students are especially encouraged to attend the Undergraduate Student Meeting on Tuesday, March 14 at 3:30 pm. The Education Committee and Undergraduate Subcommittee host this time for undergraduates to learn about SOT resources. The majority of the time will be in a speed-networking format so that undergraduates can learn about graduate school firsthand from graduate students and postdocs. While supplies last, undergraduates who attend will receive a Starbucks card. Use it to take a coffee break or maybe to set up your own networking over a coffee.
Another networking time is the Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Scholar Mixer on Sunday at 7:30 pm. This is the place to make new friends, greet other students and postdocs, and visit posters for the Specialty Sections, Special Interest Groups, and Regional Chapters. Many of the component groups welcome and encourage undergraduates to participate in their activities.
The SOT Annual Meeting is especially about the science. Undergraduate students will find a large array of scientific and poster sessions during the meeting to explore all the disciplines related to toxicology. We anticipate that these students will have a great experience in Baltimore and many will continue along a path in toxicology and the biomedical sciences.