Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Summer Research Opportunities Program (MET-SROP)

Abstract (Summary) The primary objective of the Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Summer Research Opportunities Program (MET-SROP) is to accelerate the educational pipeline of underrepresented students and train the next generation of researchers in the environmental health sciences. The overarching idea of the MET-SROP is that by providing an opportunity to experience a significant environmental toxicology laboratory research project with strong mentorship and employ modern technologies to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of toxicity, we can bring down the barriers that prevent many young scientists from choosing such a career path and simultaneously enhance their likelihood of success. Building on over ten years of success, the program aims to support seven undergraduate trainees from underrepresented backgrounds each summer and provide research experiences that reflect modern approaches to understand cellular and molecular mechanisms of toxicity. Unique program elements include: i) rigorous hands-on training in basic laboratory research coupled with ii) introduction to a didactic foundation of environmental health sciences, and iii) diverse exposures to future career opportunities and tools for successful advancement beyond undergraduate training. Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Campus, trainers are experts in foundations of toxicology, molecular approaches to chemical toxicity, genetics, data sciences, and epidemiology. Trainees receive extensive laboratory experience working alongside graduate students and fellows. This laboratory training is combined with a ten-week program including didactic training, career development and mentoring. The parallel “Didactic” track program will begin with an interactive overview of toxicology and its relevance to other environmental health sciences including environmental regulation, risk assessment, epidemiology, community health and health equity. This foundation is essential for supporting student success in lab work and the ability to see the impact of research beyond the laboratory. The didactic session also includes a three-week minicourse in data science including training in R-programming for analyzing toxicology and human health data. The third SROP component, referred to as “Science Life,” includes several minisymposia throughout the ten weeks that include laboratory tours, and talks by leading experts from UW Madison, and former trainees known in the environmental health sciences workforce, from both government and industry. Finally, SROP trainees participate in a variety of campus events to interact with and build connections with other summer program trainees from diverse backgrounds. This networking is also complemented by numerous opportunities to engage with other graduate students and alumni through the didactic and science life tracks. Since its inception, the MET-SROP aims to welcome and support students from communities traditionally underrepresented in STEM and provides them with a rewarding summer experience from which to advance their environmental health sciences career.