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Spring Issue 2008
Undergraduate Students Get a Special Dose of Toxicology
The Committee on Diversity Initiatives (CDI) hosted an excellent group of undergraduates and advisors in the Undergraduate Education Program at the SOT Annual Meeting in Seattle. Forty-four students and nine faculty advisors participated. Students from ethnic/racial groups under-represented in the sciences and their advisors received travel funding through NIH-MARC grant # GM08397. An additional group of students who are from institutions that receive low levels of federal funding in science and math received travel support from SOT. The Sunday portion of the program is open to any undergraduate student who is registered for the Annual Meeting, including the Pfizer Undergraduate Travel Award recipients.
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Myrtle Davis received recognition from Marian Ehrich (left) and Vicente Santa Cruz (right). |
Special recognition was presented to Myrtle Davis by Marion Ehrich and CDI chair Vicente Santa Cruz. Dr. Davis succeeded Dr. Ehrich as PI on the NIH grant and has provided many years of significant leadership for the Undergraduate Education Program.
Saturday evening groups of students, advisors, graduate student peer mentors, and toxicologist host-mentors are assembled and discuss graduate school and careers in toxicology in an informal setting. The now traditional ice-breaker based on the FDA Tox Squad got things rolling, and Craig Marcus provided the lecture in introductory toxicology. Presentations on Sunday by Martin Philbert, Judy Zelikoff, and Charles Miller provided interesting insights into specific topics in toxicology. Malari Coburn, an undergraduate from Centenary College of Louisiana, who participated in a summer internship with Heather Kleiner, presented her work.
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Students learn about tox programs. |
Special sessions to learn about graduate school admissions and success in graduate school were provided to break-out groups by Enrique Fuentes, Lauren Aleksunes, Antonio Baines, and Angela Slitt. Mary Kanz and Mary Ann Smith facilitated the faculty advisor session. Several academic program directors and internship hosts—34—participated in the open session in which students could ask questions one-on-one. Career opportunities in different employment sectors and balancing work and family were discussed by a panel including Myrtle Davis (moderator), Alice Villalobos, Vanessa Silva, and Marquea King.
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Informal discussion about toxicology careers is an integrated part of the program. |
The undergraduates reviewed a special section of posters in ToxExpo and had the opportunity to talk to graduate students and other toxicologists about their work, seeking to uncover the Mystery Scientist. This person was identified by asking questions and collecting clues, and the group who uncovered the Mystery Scientist received special prizes. Program participants also attended the Plenary Lecture and the In Vitro Luncheon.
The members of the CDI invest a great amount of time and energy all year preparing the program, and SOT extends appreciation and congratulations for this important program that brings toxicology to the attention of potential scientists. Peer mentors, mentors, and speakers are also very critical to successful engagement of the students, and have agreed to continue to be in touch with these students to encourage them to keep graduate school in their career plans. |
