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Undergraduates Encouraged to Pursue Toxicology via SOT Annual Meeting and Other Activities

By Betty Eidemiller posted 02-20-2014 12:47

  

v2UG blog 1a DSC_9093.jpgThe Society of Toxicology (SOT) has continued the strong commitment to mentor young scientists. The Education Committee and Committee on Diversity Initiatives are working together more deliberately to integrate the various SOT activities for undergraduates, including the Undergraduate Education Program, Domestic ToxScholar Grants, and support for internship experiences. The Undergraduate Education Program at the SOT Annual Meeting serves as the centerpiece to introduce students to the science of and careers in toxicology. SOT provides students selected for that program and other award recipients travel funding, complimentary meeting registration, and special activities. Undergraduates recognized based on poster submission will display identifying ribbons on their posters. Meeting attendees are encouraged to look for these ribbons and engage these scientists in discussion of their work.

Awards for undergraduates presenting posters have increased to 11 this year with the addition of funds from the SOT Endowment as well as those provided by Pfizer. The Pfizer SOT Undergraduate Travel Award recipients are selected by the Education Committee from the many outstanding applicants based on their meeting abstracts, academic record, and statements from the student and mentor. The 2014 awardees include Wesley Cai, University of Arizona; Elaine Kuo, Stanford University (research conducted at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution); Cory V. Gerlach, Oregon State University; Lukas Gora, Michigan State University; Virginia Mitchell, University of Utah; Kia Z. Perez-Vale, University of Puerto Rico Arecibo (research conducted at Michigan State University); Ricardo Rivera-Soto, University of Puerto Rico Arecibo (research conducted at Michigan State University); Bradley Rowland, McMurray University (research conducted at Texas Tech University Health Science Center); Kelly Schlotman, Purdue University; Jennette Shoots, Kenyon College; and Kelly VanDenBerg, Michigan State University. Pfizer toxicologists host these students at special events during the meeting and they are recognized at the Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony.

Undergraduate students who were not selected for travel support and participation in the full 3-day Undergraduate Education Program may register for the Sunday portion of the program (March 23, 2014) when they register for the meeting. On Sunday, speakers make topical introductory toxicology presentations and students also learn about toxicology careers, what graduate school is like, and have the valuable opportunity to meet with academic program directors and internship hosts. The photo above shows students meeting academic program directors.

All undergraduates at the meeting also are invited to the undergraduate student meeting hosted by the Education Committee Undergraduate Education Subcommittee, which is held at 4:00 pm–5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 26, in Room 226A of the Phoenix Convention Center.

 

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