The Society of Toxicology (SOT) Education Committee is pleased to announce the selection of the Hosts for the 2019 Global Senior Scholar Exchange Program (GSSEP). Wilson Rumbeiha, Iowa State University, will be hosting Scholar Olufunsho Awodele, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. Michael Dourson and Bernard Gadagbui, Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA), will host Nitin Verma, Baddi University of Emerging Sciences and Technology, Baddi, India, and curriculum discussions will occur with faculty at the University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Rumbeiha (left) is an excellent match for Dr. Awodele (right). They share the common research area of neurobiology and 
Dr. Rumbeiha has taught undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses which will provide depth in the discussions of development of an undergraduate toxicology degree at the University of Lagos as well as strengthening the graduate curriculum. Iowa State seeks international connections and Dr. Rumbeiha has extensive international scholarly experience, including hosting a previous Global Scholar. Together they will identify areas in which the Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology and Iowa State interdepartmental toxicology program can build mutual long-term relationships with the University of Ibadan in research, teaching, and outreach.
Drs. Dourson (left) and Gadagbui (right) will be excellent resources for Dr. Verma in shaping his 
university’s risk assessment program and have previously hosted a Global Scholar. TERA has a goal of providing risk training programs that meet the specific needs of different countries and regions and can learn from Dr. Verma, an experienced educator and risk practitioner. Together they will explore the complex and integrated issues of pharmaceuticals in the environment, pesticide residues, traditional medicines, food safety, and related human and ecological issues facing India.
Dr. Verma (left) with be connected with key scientists at the University of Cincinnati and at the US Environmental Protection Agency Cincinnati research facility as part of investigating curricula and establishing relationships for future collaboration.
The GSSEP program has supported two pairs of toxicologists annually since it began in 2012, a toxicologist from a developing country paired with a toxicologist in a well-established position anywhere in the world. The primary goal of the GSSEP is to increase toxicology capacity in developing countries by providing professional opportunities for scientists through relationships supported by SOT. The Scholars who are selected build on this opportunity by strengthening toxicology within their universities and countries. SOT provides funding for the Scholars to attend the SOT Annual Meeting. GSSEP funding also supports the month-long exchange visit to the campuses of the Hosts as well as travel funding for the Hosts to visit the campus of the Scholars during the next year. During this exchange, topics of mutual interest are shared between the Scholar and the Host and others at the involved institutions, including research ideas and training program curricula, and plans for joint scholarly work.
More information about the program, applications, and the list of previous exchanges can be accessed through the GSSEP webpage. We encourage all potential Scholar and Host applicants to consider applying for the program. The next deadline for Scholar applications is June 15, 2019.