Postdoctoral Members

About the SOT Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA)

Postdoctoral membership in SOT provides early career toxicologists with opportunities for scientific growth, networking, and career advancement. All members of SOT who self-identify as postdoctoral scholars are part of the Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA), which was formed to increase involvement of postdocs in SOT and to address issues related to the postdoctoral experience. The PDA is governed by an elected PDA Executive Board who provide leadership for communications, strategic activities, and events of special interest to postdocs. Postdoctoral members serve leadership roles in the Society by participating as representatives for SOT Regional Chapters, Special Interest Groups, Specialty Sections, and to Committees.

How SOT Defines a Postdoc

The Society of Toxicology aligns its definition of a postdoctoral researcher closely with the definition set by the National Postdoctoral Association.

Characteristics that define a postdoctoral position include:

  • The postdoctoral appointment is temporary.
  • Effort is focused primarily on research.
  • The development of professional skills prepares the postdoc to actively pursue a career.
  • The postdoc is supervised by at least one senior scholar.
  • The postdoc is allowed and encouraged to publish the results of his or her research or scholarship.
  • The appointment is not part of a clinical training program.

PDA Executive Board and Representatives

All SOT Postdoctoral members are part of the Society’s Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA), which is governed by the elected PDA Executive Board. Postdoctoral representatives are appointed to SOT Regional Chapters, Special Interest Groups, Specialty Sections, and some SOT Committees to enhance the involvement of postdoctoral scholars within SOT.

PDA Executive Board

Anke Tukker
Olawande Olagoke
Samuel Cochran
Qiran Chen
Elise Hickman
Kruutika Satbhai
Chidozie Amuzie

Postdoc Regional Chapter, Special Interest Group, and Specialty Section Representatives

Each SOT Regional Chapter, Special Interest Group, and Specialty Section may appoint a Postdoctoral Representative to provide leadership for their group and communication with the PDA. The representative encourages membership in SOT and the Component Group as well as development of activities to enhance involvement of postdocs in SOT.

Postdoc Committee Representatives

Some SOT Committees invite the PDA Executive Board to appoint a Postdoctoral Representative to serve as an ad hoc member of the committee to provide the perspective of, and communication with, SOT postdoctoral scholars.

Committee on Diversity Initiatives

Rubia Martin
US EPA, Raleigh, NC

Continuing Education Committee

Aalekhya Reddam
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY

Education and Career Development Committee

Dakota Robarts
Pfizer Inc., Groton, CT

Faculty United for Toxicology Undergraduate Recruitment and Education

Jephte Akakpo
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS

Membership Committee

Frederick Ekuban
University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Best Postdoctoral Publication Award

The Best Postdoctoral Publication Award recognizes outstanding work accomplished during formal, mentored postdoctoral traineeships by recognizing recently published exceptional papers in the field of toxicology. Applications are reviewed by the Postdoctoral Assembly Board and outside reviewers with appropriate scientific expertise, following NIH conflict of interest, confidentiality, and nondisclosure rules.


Qiran Chen, PhD

Qiran Chen, PhD

University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Chen, Qiran, Wei-Chun Chou, and Zhoumeng Lin. 2022.
“Integration of Toxicogenomics and Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling in Human Health Risk Assessment of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate.”
Environmental Science & Technology
56, no. 6 (March): 3623–33.

View abstract
Isha Mhatre-Winters, PhD

Isha Mhatre-Winters, PhD

Florida International University, Miami, FL

Eid, Aseel, Isha Mhatre-Winters, Ferass M. Sammoura, Melissa K. Edler, Richard von Stein, Muhammad M. Hossain, Yoonhee Han et al. 2022.
“Effects of DDT on Amyloid Precursor Protein Levels and Amyloid Beta Pathology: Mechanistic Links to Alzheimer’s Disease Risk.”
Environmental Health Perspectives 130, no. 8 (August): 87005.

View abstract
Alexandra N. Nail, PhD

Alexandra N. Nail, PhD

University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Nail, Alexandra N., Lakynkalina M. McCaffrey, Mayukh Banerjee, Ana P. Ferragut Cardoso, and J. Christopher States. 2022.
“Chronic Arsenic Exposure Suppresses ATM Pathway Activation in Human Keratinocytes.”
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
446 (July): 116042.

View abstract

Postdoc Events and Activities

Upcoming Events

Register for Postdoc Funding Opportunities: Overview and Perspectives from a Toxicologist

Save the date for October 18, 12:00 noon–1:30 pm ET when SOT’s Postdoctoral Assembly will hold a webinar titled “Postdoc Funding Opportunities: Overview and Perspectives from a Toxicologist” for SOT postdoctoral members. Join for an overview of postdoc funding opportunities from a wide range of organizations, and a personal perspective from an SOT member on applying for and receiving NIH funding as a postdoc.

Register here

Poster Tours for Trainees

The Postdoctoral Assembly organizes Poster Tours for Trainees at the SOT Annual Meeting for graduate students and postdoctoral scientists to participate in a one-hour guided poster tour with a toxicologist guide. These small group tours provide the opportunity for trainees to take part in critical evaluation of cutting-edge toxicology methods and research findings and network with a senior toxicologist.

PDA Luncheon

To encourage increased participation and networking among postdoctoral scholars, the Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA) Board hosts a luncheon at the SOT Annual Meeting exclusively for postdocs to gather in an informal setting to relax, network, and celebrate their achievements others, including PDA officers, Postdoctoral Representatives, and SOT Councilors.

Career Exploration through Speed Informational Interviews

During this career-development event, small groups of trainees rotate through a series of short, timed discussions with career representatives from academia, government, and industry. Trainees can ask the representatives about their background, career path, the hiring process, and other aspects of identifying and pursuing career interests. This event provides an informal opportunity to gain insight about different employment sectors in toxicology.




National Postdoc Appreciation Week

National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW) was created by the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA) to recognize postdocs and their numerous accomplishments in research and scientific discovery around the globe. SOT appreciates and recognizes postdoctoral scholars as an integral part of the SOT community, who make meaningful contributions to the Society, advance the science of toxicology, and build for the future of the discipline. During NPAW, the Society joins the NPA in focusing attention on all the contributions and accomplishments of postdoctoral scholars through the multiple PDA virtual activities.

NPAW Blogs and Resources

Resources

Career Development Sessions and Webinars

The PDA organizes webinars designed to provide postdocs with career tips and advice. The PDA also helps organize Career Development Sessions each year at the SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo.