Purdue Undergraduate Research Experience in Toxicology - Abstract The Purdue University Research Experience in Toxicology (PURE-Tox) is a mentored summer research experience for undergraduates to introduce them to toxicology. The program will broadly recruit 10 promising students from across the United States to Purdue University for a comprehensive 8-week training experience in the laboratories of world leading toxicologists. Recruitment and advertising strategies are employed to attract students from Undergraduate Colleges, Master’s Colleges and Universities and Doctoral Universities (R1, R2, and R3) with limited experience in research. Students are admitted to the PURE-Tox program based on review of scholarly achievements, personal statements, interest in toxicology, and letters of recommendation. Students will be matched with a mentor from the Purdue Toxicology Faculty that most closely aligns with their research interest. Mentors will then provide a hands-on research project with the student on a toxicology topic. Faculty serving as mentors have research excellence ranging from environmental exposure assessments, mechanistic toxicology investigations, community health, and computational approaches. All mentors have mentored successful undergraduate students in their laboratory and Purdue has an environment committed to undergraduate development. Throughout the program student progress and experience is evaluated through progress reports and weekly meetings with the mentor. Students will participate in weekly educational seminars introducing them to basic toxicology principles and disciplines. Seminars will focus on exposures, toxicity mechanisms, disease outcomes, and treatment strategies. These seminars combine didactic delivery of information, journal clubs, and experiential learning activities. Additionally, students will attend weekly career development seminars covering necessary professional and scientific skills. These include responsible conduct of research, graduate application preparation, communication skills, scientific literature comprehension, and careers in toxicology. Sessions are designed for active student participation. Throughout the PURE-Tox experience students will engage in structured social activities to build community and network with peers and future colleagues. Social activities were specifically selected for accessibility and various interests. At the end of the program, students will have produced a research abstract that can be used for attending local, regional, and national conferences. Students will provide an oral research presentation describing their research. Following the presentation there is a networking event for PURE-Tox student, mentors, faculty, graduate students and postdocs to engage with one another. This program synergizes with a successful summer undergraduate program that has resulted in undergraduate research awards, graduate student applications, and publications. PURE-Tox activities provide comprehensive toxicology training, ultimately aimed at preparation for future training opportunities in graduate programs and independent research careers. Our program is expected to be the critical first step in identifying and training the next generation of toxicologists who will ultimately improve human health.
