There are many ways to make the most of your SOT membership. Run for office in your Component Group, volunteer on a Committee, attend a webinar, and utilize the many curated resources provided to you—for free—with your membership.
Curated Resources
Every year, the Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA) produces original content to aid in career development and celebrate the achievements of the postdoctoral community. These resources are available to everyone on the “Postdoctoral Members” section of the SOT website. There are even more resources on the “Toxicology Career Resources and Tools” web page. Resources include recorded Continuing Education courses, webinars, and even blog posts written by members of the community. On the PDA web page, you also will find a link to apply for the PDA Best Postdoctoral Publication Award, which is awarded annually to three postdocs in recognition of outstanding publications in the field.
Upcoming Live Webinars
This year, we have developed a highly collaborative webinar series with the goal of providing actionable advice on the early career transition to independence in academia. The first webinar, “Interviews with Early Career Investigators,” was conducted on December 16, and the recording is available. Don’t miss the next two webinars, on January 22 and February 26! We have outstanding speakers to talk with us about best practices in the academic job search and how to be a good mentor as an early career investigator.
The webinar series is sponsored by PDA, the Carcinogenesis Specialty Section, the Metals Specialty Section, and the Mechanisms Specialty Section. It is endorsed by the Education and Career Development Committee, Graduate Student Leadership Committee, and Women in Toxicology Special Interest Group.
Transitioning to Independence Webinar Series, Part 2: Best Practices for the Academic Job Hunt
Date and Time: Wednesday, January 22, 2020, 3:00 PM–4:00 PM (ET)
Host: Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA)
Registration is required.
Speakers:
Karen M. Vasquez, PhD
University of Texas at Austin
Patrick Allard, PhD
University of California Los Angeles
Xinxin Ding, PhD
University of Arizona
From the other side of the hiring process, Part 2 will bring together a small panel of academic faculty members who have been on recruiting/hiring committees at different universities. Discussion questions will highlight how to stand out throughout the application process, mistakes in the early application phase, and tips for the on-site interview (dress the part, chalk talk, one-on-one sessions, etc.).
Transitioning to Independence Webinar Series, Part 3: How to Get the Most Out of Your Mentoring Relationships
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 26, 2020, 12:00 Noon–1:00 PM (ET)
Host: Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA)
Registration is required.
Speakers:
Laura Van Winkle, PhD
University of California Davis
Debra Laskin, PhD
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
John Wise, PhD
University of Louisville
This webinar will feature experienced faculty members who can provide input on mentoring issues and how to seek advice throughout your career, even as you transition to independence. The primary learning objectives will be (1) how to maintain mentoring relationships during the transition to independence, especially while trying to distinguish yourself from your mentor/PI; and (2) how to become a good mentor—while still junior yourself—as you build your lab and advise others from the role of PI. Moderator-led discussion will feature perspectives from three academic career stages (graduate student, postdoc, and Assistant Professor).