Spring Issue 2006

Toxicology is a Great Career: Undergraduates Explore the SOT Annual Meeting

Daniel Acosta, Jr., University of Cincinnati; Winston Evering, Pfizer Global Research and Development; and William Farland, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provided an overview of careers in toxicology (academia, industry, and government, respectively) during a panel discussion that was a new feature of the Undergraduate Education Program held during the San Diego Annual Meeting. This discussion capped the two-day program, which was hosted by the Committee for Diversity Initiatives (CDI) for outstanding undergraduates who were selected from a pool of national applicants. NIH-MARC funding, which has supported the Undergraduate Program at SOT since 1990, provided travel funds for 30 students from ethnic groups that are under-represented in the sciences and for six faculty advisors. Another group of 10 students from institutions that receive a low level of federal funding for science and mathematics received travel support from EPA. The diversity of institutions represented can be seen on the list of participants (Minority Student Award Recipients) (Undergraduate Toxicology Education Award Recipients).

The Program opened on Saturday night with an ice-breaker that includes the story of the founding of the FDA, and conferring of bowler hats to participants who distinguished themselves from their peers through extreme-“high dose” ways, e.g., most languages spoken, largest pet, most dangerous hobby, etc. (see photo). The introductory toxicology lecture Saturday night was followed on Sunday with additional lectures that illustrated the breadth of toxicology, including a chance for students to interpret toxicology data and for a student speaker to present research findings. A special subset of scientific posters captured the attention of these students Monday morning. The students were motivated to find the answers to various questions in order to discover which presenter was the mystery scientist and to win great prizes. Advisors and students also had special break-out sessions to explore topics such as advising students for graduate school admission, how to apply to graduate school, and what graduate school is like. Representatives of a large number of academic and internship programs visited with students and advisors during an informal session.

The Sunday portion of the Undergraduate Education Program is open to any undergraduate student registered for the Annual Meeting, and this year delegations from several academic institutions added to the number of participants, as did the recipients of the first Pfizer Undergraduate Travel Awards.

Students are enthusiastic about their experience at the SOT Annual Meeting, and many comment that their interest in graduate school and toxicology has been whetted. Alumni from the Program continue to participate as speakers, peer mentors, and host mentors. CDI is proud to feature these toxicologists in “Eye on CDI.” We thank all the many people who make this extensive and important effort possible, including the speakers, peer mentors, host mentors, and the organizing committee. Peter Thomas chaired CDI this year.