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.

Grant Number: 5R25ES020720-13
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: CHRISTOPHER BRADFIELD