51st Annual Meeting & ToxExpo - Society of Toxicology

Society of Toxicology 2012
Scientific
Education-Career Development Sessions
The Thematic Track information can be found on pages 8–9.
Tuesday
Career Alternatives and Transitions:
New Challenges and Opportunities
in Today’s Job Market for Toxicologists
Tuesday, March 13, 1:30 PM to 4:15 PM
Chairperson(s): Richard D. Storer, Merck Research Laboratories,
West Point, PA, and James A. Popp, Stratoxon LLC, Lancaster, PA.
Sponsor:
Career Resource and Development Committee
Endorsed by:
Education Committee
Postdoctoral Assembly
New toxicology graduates have traditionally pursued a diverse spectrum
of career opportunities in teaching and research, in industrial
or contract toxicology laboratories, or in regulatory agencies and
affiliated institutes. Downturns in the global economy, together with
a wave of consolidation and downsizing in industry, particularly in
the pharmaceutical sector, has created a challenging environment for
job seekers. This has compelled new graduates, as well as toxicologists
at all phases of their careers, to confront new challenges in securing
initial or continuing employment in their area of specialization,
consistent with their career goals. This session will explore alternatives
available to new graduates as well as to established toxicologists
facing career transitions. To begin this important dialogue targeted
to new graduates, postdocs, and nontenured faculty, we will examine
the challenges facing toxicologists pursuing career paths in research
and teaching and will touch on alternative career paths for which the
skills developed in completing a doctorate and postdoctoral research
in toxicology are transferable. Our panel will review the options
and challenges facing the mid- to late-career industry toxicologist
confronted with the prospect or actuality of layoffs or early retirement
due to corporate downsizing. The focus of the talk will be on
the current landscape for toxicology consultants either as independent
consultants, employees of established consulting companies, or
individuals pooling resources to form new consulting groups. If you
are considering transitioning your career in a regulatory agency, a
review of the opportunities and challenges for toxicologists will be
provided. The final talk will provide insight on the impact of cutbacks
in the pharmaceutical industry and trends favoring outsourcing of
toxicology testing on career development opportunities in contract
research. At the conclusion of the talks, a significant amount of time
has been set aside by the panelists to allow time for questions from
participants.
• Current Challenges in Pursuit of Careers in Academia.
Barbara Kaplan, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI.
• Career Transition to Toxicology Consulting. James A. Popp,
Stratoxon LLC, Lancaster, PA.
• Career Transitions from Industry to Government. Hanan
Ghantous, US FDA, Silver Spring, MD.
• Challenges Facing Toxicologists in Today’s Job Market:
The CRO Environment. Stephen Durham, Charles River
Laboratories, Reno, NV.
The Art of Negotiation: A Fundamental Skill for
Scientists
Tuesday, March 13, 4:30 PM to 5:50 PM
Chairperson(s): Larissa M. Williams, Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution, Woods Hole, MA, and Ebany J. Martinez-Finley,
Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, TN.
Sponsor:
Postdoctoral Assembly
Endorsed by:
Career Resource and Development Committee
Graduate Student Leadership Committee
Hispanic Organization of Toxicologists Special Interest Group
Women in Toxicology Special Interest Group
Negotiation is an essential skill for scientists of every rank and job
sector to navigate their career successfully, yet it is often not part of
a scientist’s formal training. Fundamentally, negotiation culminates
in the attainment of a mutually acceptable agreement between two
or more parties—however there is an art to reaching such an agreement.
Because negotiations typically occur behind closed doors, few
will ever experience a negotiation until they represent one of the
parties involved. In an ever-changing world it has become imperative
to understand the nuances of negotiation, and this session offers
attendees a unique opportunity to bring negotiations out in the
open. This session will introduce scientists to the intricacies of negotiations
in the workplace and to discuss idiosyncrasies in negotiation
tactics across toxicology sectors. The session will be delivered in
two segments: a formal lecture and a panel discussion delivered by
speakers from academia, industry, and government. Our panel will
deliver important information on the art of negotiation, addressing
conflict styles and the basics of interest-based negotiation. The panel
will then discuss their personal experiences in negotiation throughout
their careers and address best practices in negotiation as it relates to
their sector of toxicology. Topics covered will include preparation for
negotiating, how to initiate negotiation, importance of body language,
gender differences in negotiation, negotiating for salary and start-up
in academia, negotiating for labor and represented management at
the bargaining table in government, and negotiation practices in the
pharmaceutical industry. At the end of the session, participants will
come away with a better understanding of how negotiations work and
how to use them to their advantage.
• Negotiation: Getting What You Want without Giving In.
Ellen Kandell, Alternative Resolutions, LLC, Silver Spring, MD.
Thematic Session
108
SOT’s 51 st Annual Meeting