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Why Sponsor Interns?
SOT Internships provide an outstanding learning experience in toxicology that benefits the sponsor as well as the intern. "We found the intern opportunity to be a rewarding experience for all involved," said Jim Mayne
of Pfizer Central Research in 1998. "Our two students were quite outstanding and made significant contributions in their brief time with us." Pfizer has been an intern sponsor for many years.
Will Bick worked in reproductive toxicology with Dr. Howard Solomon at SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals in the summer of 2000. Dr. Solomon reported "This is our fifth year in the SOT program. Our students are enthusiastic and hardworking. They become involved quickly in our investigative effort in reproductive toxicology, learning both theoretical and practical information. The students are always a pleasure to have with us. I thank the SOT for a very successful summer intern program."
An important part of the internship experience is the intern mentor, and, like Dr. Solomon, many toxicologists have stayed with the program year after year. One, Dr. Luz Claudio of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who participated from 1997–1999, received the 2000 Mentor Award presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Intern mentor Mark Carfagna hosted Daniel Bauer from Bowdoin College at Eli Lilly and Company. "The value of the internship program to our institution is multifaceted. First of all the intern gives us the opportunity to pursue research questions which we do not normally have the time to evaluate. In addition, it is refreshing to our laboratory group
to interact with individuals that have different and unique thoughts about our research projects. In Dan°s case, I believe the internship was helpful in exposing him to toxicological research. Dan was initially uncertain as to his career path but is now considering toxicology programs for his graduate degree. Finally the program benefits our institution in terms of recruiting. Recently we have hired a past summer intern who worked in my laboratory in 1997. Having known the individual as a summer intern for 3 months decreased the uncertainty sometimes encountered in making hiring decisions."
James Yager has also been involved with interns for several years. "The summer research training program in the Division of Toxicological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the Johns
Hopkins School of Public Health began in 1992," he said. "The students are supported by RO1 grants and by a "Short-Term Research Training for Minority Students" training grant from the NIEHS. Including this summer, 30 undergraduate research trainees have spent 10–12 weeks participating in research projects, and in several instances,
students have returned for a second summer to continue working on a project. Virtually all of the applicants to the program come throughÞ(SOT°s)Þprogram. Overall, we have been very pleased with the students who have participated in the program. Many have continued on in careers in science. We feel that having this program provides increased exposure for our
graduate program and benefits the students by providing them with the opportunity to experience working in an academic research laboratory and environment."
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