Description:

The SOT recognizes that toxicology-related training experiences facilitate successful transition of postdoctoral scholars into a professional position in toxicology. The New Experiences in Toxicology (NEXT) Program provides funding up to $1,000 to cover costs associated with additional training related to toxicology that will broaden a postdoc’s expertise and prepare them for the competitive job market. Applicants will identify professional development workshops, short courses, or activities that would provide training outside of their academic, governmental, or industrial postdoc (see SOT website for suggestions). The goal of the NEXT program is to enable postdoctoral trainees to obtain training outside of their current sector; for example, an academic or industrial postdoc may use this award to learn about government or regulatory toxicology. The NEXT training must be outside the available resources of the applicant’s postdoctoral training and research project and be related to their career goals. The toxicology skill gap desired to be fulfilled via NEXT should not be one that can be met by their current institution. NEXT funding will not be awarded to refine a research project-related technique, to attend a professional society or scientific conference, or to supplement an internship. Additional experiences in the same sector in which the postdoctoral trainee is currently training is not the intent. The training may be virtual or in person.

Three awards of up to $1,000 per recipient may be given each year. The deadlines to apply are May 15 and October 15.

Awardees will be selected based on their achievement record, relevance of the proposed professional activity to career goals in the field of toxicology, quality of proposed experience, and recommendation by their postdoc mentor.

Awardees are required to provide a brief follow-up blog post on the funded experience, which will highlight their receipt of the award and benefits of the experience to their professional career goals. This blog post is mutually beneficial, as it highlights the success of NEXT and provides visibility of the postdoc’s award and dedication to the field.

Eligibility Criteria:

The applicant must

1. Be a postdoctoral scholar in good standing in a formal, mentored postdoc position at the time of application.
2. Be a SOT postdoc member at the time of application and a SOT postdoc or associate member at the time of the experience.
3. Designate an activity that begins no sooner than a month following the application deadline.
4. Complete the experience no later than a year after the deadline for which the application was submitted.

Application Requirements

1. Applicant should submit the completed application and include:
   1. Evidence of commitment of institutional, personal, or other funds to cover costs exceeding $1,000. If the experience is expected to occur after completion of the postdoc, address whether the funds to cover excess costs would still be available.
   2. Personal statement that briefly summarizes their research projects, discusses their career goals and how the NEXT activity adds value.
   3. A copy of their CV not to exceed 5 pages.
2. The applicant’s mentor must upload a supporting letter directly to the Award system indicating approval of the applicant’s participation in the defined professional development activity and describing the relevance and value to the applicant’s career goals. Further, if applicable, the letter should confirm the availability of funds (e.g., institutional commitment) proposed to cover costs in excess of $1,000.
3. A letter of support from the host/organizer of the supplemental training experience describing the availability and details of the training. This letter is not needed if the experience is organized by an established organization for which specific detailed information is available online describing the experience (i.e., a formal course/program that has open admission/enrollment or an experience that has a dedicated webpage describing the training experience).
4. The applicant will provide feedback on the value of the experience to the SOT Education and Career Development Committee in the form of a Communiqué Blog Post.