Abstract
Have you ever reflected on your career or other experiences and thought, if I knew 10 or 20 years ago, what I know now, it would have enabled me to do this or that better—or I would have had a different attitude or perhaps even taken a different path? This article presents the proceedings from the symposium entitled “I Wish I Had Known That! Impactful Guidance and Perspectives for a Fulfilling Career in Toxicology” held at the 2023 annual meeting of the American College of Toxicology. In this session, toxicology professionals reflected on the highlights of their careers, the most impactful advice/mentoring they received or wish they had received, and the characteristics that have been key components of their success. This session consisted of didactic talks from a diverse panel representing various career stages and backgrounds, followed by a panel discussion and the opportunity for the audience to ask questions. Using a structured approach, speakers actively engaged the audience, providing insights gained through their professional journeys. This article offers experiential-based insights to help guide individuals in achieving successful and fulfilling careers in toxicology, considering both professional aspirations and the integration of personal values with life goals.
Introduction
This article presents the proceedings of a symposium at the 2023 annual meeting of the American College of Toxicology (ACT) entitled “I Wish I Had Known That! Impactful Guidance and Perspectives for a Fulfilling Career in Toxicology.” This symposium was an interactive presentation and discussion that provided guidance to toxicology professionals on navigating the highs and lows of their careers and everything in between. This session featured brief, didactic talks from the ACT global community of professional scientists intended to educate and guide scientists through an exchange of information and perspectives.
Professional success is something almost everyone is striving for, however, the definition of success itself is highly subjective and varies significantly across individuals based on their chosen career paths, accumulated experiences, and unique perspectives. In the early stages of a professional career, there is often a focus on accumulating achievements, career advancement, and income growth to achieve independence and a desired lifestyle. Additionally, an important aspect of enjoying life is integrating time with family and friends. Developing an understanding of how people define success through what they see as being highlights and challenges in their lives and in their careers, can elucidate what truly matters at the end of the day.
The overarching goal of this session was to provide attendees with a broader understanding of the evolving perspectives and priorities of toxicologists during their career journeys. A diverse panel of speakers, representing various career stages, shared their personal and professional journeys, highlighting key learnings and how these learnings are/were applied in their own careers. Each speaker engaged with the audience and provided an overview of their career path, the main challenges and highlights they experienced and the characteristics they viewed as essential for a successful career. Speakers also offered valuable advice for both current and aspiring toxicology professionals, including that which they would give to their past selves.
This article intends to provide readers with inspiration, insights, and an expanded perspective on what constitutes a fulfilling career in toxicology. This symposium was endorsed by the ACT Early Career Professional Subcommittee.
Symposium Summary
This session provided an overview of experiences in the field of toxicology. Key areas of focus included resilience, adapting to different companies (e.g., size and culture) as well as management styles, networking, collaborating, work/life integration, and professional development. Each professional focused on a specific area that was impactful to his/her career thus far.
Career Paths, Timelines, and Focuses.
AK = Andy Kiorpes, JB = Joel Bercu, JG = Jessica Graham, MF = Marie Fortin, RR = Robert Roy, SS = Sunjay Sethi.
Each speaker in this session was inspiring in a different way, conveying career challenges and highlights (Figure 1). Common challenges encountered by the panelists included attaining work-life balance and adapting effectively to evolving professional landscapes. Shared career highlights included contributing meaningfully to the field, participating in successful regulatory submissions, and establishing and engaging in valuable professional relationships with inspiring and remarkable colleagues and mentors. Relocating for career opportunities was noted as both a challenge and a highlight, suggesting that while there may be difficulties, the growth and development a change of environment offers is worthwhile. Career challenges and highlights. Toxicologists each expressed 2–4 career challenges and highlights in their presentations. Items in bold rang true for multiple panel members.
When considering the key characteristics for success, perseverance and collaboration were common across all career stages (Figure 2). Openness was viewed as key in early career, with passion, trust, and kindness being viewed as important by mid-career professionals, and humor and having fun were recognized as vital by those later in their career. Across all speakers, collaborations, and making positively impactful decisions were continually brought up as a highlight as well as a key characteristic for success as a toxicology professional (Figures 1 and 2). Key characteristics for success. Venn diagram of views on key characteristics for success across early, mid-, and late-stage career toxicology professionals.
Guidance Offered by Early, Mid-, and Late-Stage Career Toxicologists.
Advice the panel wished they had received earlier on in their careers.
Amendments and Deviations: The Forks in the Road
Andy Kiorpes PhD, DVM, DABT, Fellow ATS
Introduction
When I was 17, and a newly minted Eagle Scout, I was asked to give a talk on what scouting meant to me. I took as my point of departure the poem by Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I― I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
1
Career Path
Since childhood, I always wanted to know how things worked. My 17-year-old self was inspired by a high school biology teacher to think about the workings of living systems. I was hooked. My undergraduate major at Columbia University was biological sciences. My graduate program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was veterinary science. My interest in comparative biology led me to complete a degree in veterinary medicine from Kansas State, where I taught physiology. Recruited back to Madison to help launch a new vet school, I taught large animal medicine and did research in toxic lung diseases of cattle. (My daughters, Kelly and Jenn, were born during the Kansas-Wisconsin redux periods.) After years in academics, I amended my path to contract research and careers at Hazleton (now Labcorp) and Primedica (now Charles River). While at Primedica I finished an EMBA (University of Arkansas-Little Rock). I amended my plan again to join MGI Pharma in Minneapolis to work on cancer therapeutics as Director of Toxicology. MGI was so successful that Eisai bought it, forcing a deviation from the plan. Rather than move, I “retired.” I was soon invited to join a local medical-device testing lab (AppTec) to help expand their toxicology program (I “unretired”). When WuXi PharmaTech bought AppTec, I went to China to help build a new toxicology testing lab in Suzhou. During all these periods, I was active professionally, and after my return from China, I became Editor-in-Chief of the journal Toxicology and Industrial Health, President of ACT and ABT, and a fellow of ATS. None of these opportunities, challenges, and new directions would have occurred without conscious decisions made at each fork in the road.
Second, there were several things that I learned over my career that I would like to share. These are: strive for individual excellence―be a lifelong learner―and never lose your sense of wonder, curiosity, and humor. Be a good listener and be willing to embrace new ideas. Personally, my career paths have resulted in life-long friendships, collaborating with some of the smartest people in the profession, and seeing the world. The challenges were “keeping all the balls in the air” without dropping any (study directors know this one), working on the margins of my comfort zone, and taking leaps into the unknown―at the forks in the road―and this is where the focus of this presentation begins.
The Forks in the Road
It is not difficult to remember the truly momentous decisions in our lives. But recognizing the seemingly minor minute-by-minute and day-by-day decisions that placed us at a particular time and place is often overlooked. Taking a retrospectroscope to my career path from today to my 17-year-old self, I can connect all the dots. The road(s) taken make sense. But from that starting point I could not have predicted where I would be today. Considering only the major branch points from the second paragraph (assume 12) and an either/or decision at each, the math is simple: the possible outcomes are 2n or 212 = 4096. The point is that even considering a limited number of binary decisions, predicting any specific endpoint is highly unlikely. So, the real question is, what happened at each of those decision/branch points that resulted in all the roads taken?
My life has had many more branch points than the 4096 in the example above. The amendments to the path, like my decision to join MGI, were choices freely made―“let’s see what is down this road.” Deviations, on the other hand, were decisions made due to circumstances beyond my control. One stands at an unexpected fork in the road asking, “what do I do now?”. For example, the path that led me to China was unexpected and unplanned. To be sure, with very few exceptions, how one responds to the unexpected is a free decision, but the timing and nature of the opportunities resulting in such events are not.
And it is this response to life’s amendments and deviations that is common to both. Unexpected or planned, each fork in the road is an opportunity to grow, learn, and advance. There is truth to the maxim that a closing door opens a window. But here is the challenge. Embracing any opportunity requires leaps of faith and courage. The future is not known. Only in hindsight do all past decisions make sense. One common response to such opportunities is to think you are “not ready.” This is a mistake. Taking the world view that there is a “Universe” that conspires to move us forward, opportunities are a message that you are indeed ready. One of my favorite quotes to this point is by the late, great science fiction writer Ray Bradbury: “Go to the edge of the cliff and jump off. Build your wings on the way down.” 2 Never doubt yourself. You can do this.
Being Intentional
An important part of building your wings is to create a vision for yourself and where you want to be at any stage of your career. This does not preclude multiple careers. What I said earlier about not being able to predict where you could end up is true, from a 2n mathematical point of view. That does not mean that you cannot achieve what we would describe as your “dream job.” What this requires is the clear “vision” mentioned above plus setting it as an intention. The key difference between vision and intention is that the former is something you can dream about; an intention is a dream with clarity that you are able to articulate and share. The late Dr Wayne Dyer once wrote in The Power of Intention, “I’ll act on my inner intuitive impulses to create the work or job of my dreams.” 3 I will share an example from my own path. When I decided I wanted to change direction and leave contract research, I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to do next: a small biopharma company focused on a single therapeutic area. I was even specific about where I would like to live. Minneapolis was No. 1. Most importantly, I shared this intention with friends and colleagues. The “Universe” did the rest. Of all the great positions I have held and all the wonderful people with whom I worked, the position at MGI Pharma was my dream job and fulfilled the intention I had created at a key fork in the road.
There are many more stories to tell, particularly those about being “called up” to use skills and experiences―some I did not even know I had―to accomplish something extraordinary. As noted, MGI was my “dream job,” but the one that called upon all my skills―study director, toxicologist, teacher, team builder, business school graduate, writer, coach―was the one in China. Starting from the ground up, we created an entity that continues to grow. One never knows when their unique skill set, personality, and sense of adventure may be needed. Never fear to take the leap.
Parting Words
My final words to you are simply these: believe in yourself, trust your instincts, listen to your head but follow your heart, and, in the words of the late, great Yogi Berra, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
Off Target Effects of My Career in Toxicology
Jessica Graham, PhD, DABT, Fellow ATS
Introduction
We all face challenges, whether personal or professional. It’s how we handle these experiences that defines us and shows us who we are. When a situation is extremely challenging, to the point it battles your very moral fiber, there can be an underlying passion just waiting to be recognized. In our greatest challenges we can find our greatest strengths and passions, and if you can line up your passion with your career, work no longer feels like work, but like purpose. Passion can inspire one to identify a strategy, enabling innovation and prompting leadership. This presentation focused on some of the challenges I faced and how they led to identifying passions I was able to leverage to fuel innovation, professional progress and a sense of fulfillment.
Career Path
When I finished up my degree in Chemical engineering, my goal was to apply it to environmental remediation. I had no plans to continue academically. In working as an engineer at an environmental consulting firm, I was involved in air and wastewater emissions modeling / permitting as well as occupational safety. Through this work, I developed an interest in understanding the effects that chemicals released into the environment can have on our health. This led me to pursue a graduate degree in Toxicology which I began part-time and eventually moved into full-time.
Moving Forward Amid Challenges
One of the most daunting challenges I faced began in graduate school and was essentially coming to terms with the use of animals in research. As an animal lover (with >10 pet rats over the years and a retired research beagle currently), this was one of the most challenging events in my life. It is one thing to read a study report, or learn about the adverse effects of a compound, but quite another to be responsible for caring for the animals, dosing them, observing them and euthanizing them. Also, given that I had left my full-time engineering job, I questioned my life choices and career trajectory as this work was a requirement in fulfilling my doctorate. Working through this and developing acceptance took time, friends, a lot of long runs, and the understanding that research (at the time I was engaged in breast cancer research) supports the health of humans as well as animals (e.g., veterinary care / drugs).
Having this sensitivity to animal use resulted in my being thorough in study design, ensuring that an in vivo study would add value and answer the questions needed. It also motivated me to make certain the study was properly carried out and quality data was obtained so that the study would not have to be repeated. Through these experiences, I identified that I had a passion for animal welfare and the 3 Rs. The 3 Rs principles are the reduction of animal use, the replacement of animals in research with alternatives and the refinement of animal studies to enhance animal welfare. It is also often noted that there are additional Rs such as Respect and Responsibility.
In going through my career, I learned that, while not everyone is in tune with this aspect, many are, and this is an integral part of study quality and pharmaceutical company missions. Making observations and recommendations that resulted in improved animal welfare (or avoidance of an animal study), enhanced study quality and drove innovation really spoke to me and felt like purpose.
When Passion Fuels Progress
When your passion fuels scientific progress, you can have a real impact. I didn’t quite realize it at the time, but much of what I was enjoying doing was related to enhancing animal welfare and reducing animal use through the incorporation of viable alternative methods. I know now that these activities resonated with me because they were aligned with my passion. Because of my love for animals, I recognized the value in avoiding animal use and strived to leverage the science to replace in vivo studies by assessing and implementing qualified, fit-for-purpose alternative test methods, and/or through implementing tiered assessment approaches that enhance animal welfare and/or reduce animal use. Examples of these efforts throughout my career include: (1) implementing an in vitro testing strategy for ocular and dermal irritation 4 ; (2) implementing a tiered testing strategy leveraging in silico dermal sensitization models resulting in animal use avoidance 5 ; and (3) evaluating the performance of computational acute oral toxicity models and mapping there practical implementation.6–8 Each of the projects also received awards (some internal and some external) as these activities not only reduced animal use, but they also resulted in cost and time savings with less studies in progress at contract research organizations (CROs) as well as improved processes / procedures and the ability to prioritize resources. As a toxicologist focused on the field of Product Quality (e.g., impurity assessment) and Occupational Toxicology (e.g., toxicology assessment geared toward worker safety), the paradigm shifts enabled by these efforts also positively impacted worker safety given hazards could be identified more easily and communicated to employees faster.
Naturally, these interests have evolved into engagement and leadership roles within organizations that encourage innovation and the development and adoption of alternatives (e.g., IQ 3 Rs Translational and Predictive Sciences Leadership Group, Genentech 3 Rs Advisory Group, and the Alternatives Research and Development Foundation as a Grant Reviewer). 9 It is still work and there is still effort involved, but it is interesting, engaging and I feel like I am making a positive impact.
Taking Risks
At one point in my career, I started to feel stuck. I had grown into my job, knew what was expected and recognized that I really wanted more out of my career than fulfilling day-to-day job responsibilities. I wanted to have a broader positive impact and so, I paid more attention to opportunities to contribute to my field and volunteered to serve on an awards committee for the Occupational and Public Health Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology (SOT). Shortly after that, I was asked to consider running for Secretary/Treasurer, and from there went on to be elected President. Serving in these roles opened up other opportunities, grew my network and confidence, and helped develop me as a leader. That initial step led to serving in leadership positions including as Chair of the WEELTM Committee, on the NIOSH Board of Scientific Counselors (federal advisory committee), and on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Toxicology—each of which has been an awesome experience that I am grateful for. Saying yes to opportunities for involvement and pushing fears aside (e.g., “I have never done this before” or imposter syndrome), has always led to something, whether a new and exciting experience, or a lesson learned (often both!).
One thing I have learned is that as soon as you find yourself getting comfortable, change is likely just around the corner. A new opportunity may pop up that has the potential to take you out of your comfort zone, and while that may be daunting, there is so much more to gain from moving into the unknown, than remaining stagnant or doing the minimum. It is important to have an intention and an idea of what you want to experience. Having relocated my family for a new job across the country, I have experienced just how green the grass can be on the other side of what can appear as a daunting challenge or an exciting opportunity. In any situation, I believe going into it thinking of it as the latter is critical in creating a positive experience.
Parting Words
Focus on what you can do from where you are, persevere authentically and follow your intuition and what you think is important regardless of the opinions of others, have confidence in yourself and your ability to commit to yourself, and align your work objectives with your passions (e.g., leading a project that you are excited about). Looking back on my career, one highlight which stands out is having the opportunity to work with people that inspire me. Everyone on this panel inspires me in some way, and chairing/presenting in this session with them was a gift.
Assessing the Uncertainty Factor
Joel Bercu PhD, MPH, DABT, Fellow ATS
Introduction
In my career, the only constant has been change. With change, comes uncertainty. Achieving your personal career goals has a probability of success. But not achieving your career goals doesn’t equate to failure, it can mean new opportunities to grow.
Career Path
My career path has been a bit of serendipity. I had always been a hard-working student, spending hours in the library studying. I enjoyed teaching others and learning. However, when it came to my career path, I did not fully know what I wanted to do post-college. After talking with my soon-to-be adviser, I felt that toxicology was my career path.
As a Master’s student at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, I felt myself gravitating more towards the field of risk assessment toxicology. I was interested in how the scientific data could be used to affect change or make decisions. In high school, my passion was debate which is a lot like risk assessment. You gather evidence, make a recommendation, and then be prepared to defend your position. In my last year of graduate school, I thought it may take some time to find a job in toxicology. I had submitted my application in the Society of Toxicology job bank. I got an email from Eli Lilly asking if I could interview for a risk assessment position. It seemed like the perfect fit for me. I interviewed on Friday and was offered the job on Monday. I was newly married, had not graduated yet, and moving to Indianapolis was a big decision. Ultimately, the risk was worth it; I gathered my stuff and moved to Indianapolis.
Growth and Lessons Learned
The experience at Eli Lilly was a cornerstone in my life. While at the company I learned the fundamentals of risk assessment, how to write reports, how to concisely give presentations, and work in teams. I am grateful to all those that I met and shepherded me along the way. There was a topic that was emerging in my field: how to assess and manage mutagenic impurities in pharmaceuticals. It allowed me to interact and learn from our talented chemistry colleagues. This emerging topic allowed me to find my niche in the business.
I was at a point in my career where I felt I needed to grow as a scientist. I was looking into post-graduate studies and a PhD program. The fields of bioinformatics and cheminformatics interested me, especially with their relevance to toxicology. I decided to get a computational-based degree in informatics. I was fortunate that I was able to continue to work while going to school. At Eli Lilly, they supported my ambitions for post-graduate studies, and I was also fortunate to find mentors and collaborators to guide my research and career path. It was not easy, but through hard work and persistence I was able to graduate with a PhD.
Parting Words
I have gotten other job opportunities where I had to stretch myself. A mentor once told me “If after 6 months you didn’t say what did I just do, then you may have not chosen the right job.” In each opportunity, there was uncertainty about the future. However, the uncertainty is what nurtured my hunger to learn and get better. Life is uncertain, and the career path is not always straightforward. If I could go back in time, I would tell my younger self to relax, have fun and be flexible. Things may be murky but moving forward is the only way to travel. Embrace the uncertainty because it is the only way you will grow.
From Discovery to Approval: Development of a Toxicologist
Marie C. Fortin, PhD, DABT, ERT, Fellow ATS
Introduction
Life is a succession of decisions often taken without complete understanding of the ramifications, and sometimes, a say in these decisions. Whether it is choosing a major in college, a graduate program, dealing with a move, finding a postdoc, or a first, second, or third job, we never truly know what lies ahead. However, it’s better to regard these decisions not in terms of mistakes and good moves, but rather as a succession of learning experiments. In drug development, we design experiments based on the available information and other constraints at that stage and we learn from it. The same is true with career development. Ultimately, with perseverance, one can embrace the learnings from each step, and continue to grow until the domain of study or role becomes fulfilling.
Career Journey
Life is a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, and our careers are no exception. We may desire a clear and direct path, but reality is often more complex. Decisions, opportunities, and unforeseen circumstances can shape our professional trajectories in ways we could never have anticipated. Between choosing a major in college, searching for a job, dealing with a big move, or unexpected family circumstances, we can never truly predict what lies ahead. However, it is possible to shift how we approach these major decisions and significant life events. Rather than viewing these complex twists and turns as failures or setbacks, we can embrace them as opportunities for growth and learning. Just as a scientist conducts experiments, learns from the results, and adjusts their approach accordingly, we can apply the same iterative process to our careers. Each career step can thus be viewed as a valuable experience from which we can extract insights and develop the skills necessary to reach professional satisfaction. As I reflect on my own journey, I have come to realize that detours and unexpected opportunities have played a crucial role in shaping my professional growth.
Challenges
As a first-generation college student and immigrant, I faced challenges such as language barriers, cross-country moves, and attempting to balance work with familial responsibilities. Yet these experiences have shaped me into the person I am today, instilling a sense of courage, grit, resilience, and perseverance inside me. In school, I pursued my academic interest in science, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, fueled by curiosity about DNA and genetic engineering. I continued my educational path with a master’s in neuroscience, inspired by an interest in understanding such a complex organ system. Finally, I earned a PhD in public health with a specialization in toxicology, driven by my desire to learn more about the potential health effects of environmental exposures. Following my young family’s move to the United States, I remained committed to my education and passion for toxicology. I successfully completed my PhD remotely (in a time when that was far from the norm) and secured a postdoctoral position at Rutgers University. While I enjoyed academic research, the uncertainty associated with seeking a tenure-track position led me to transition into the industry. My career path has been marked by several interstate moves, each requiring an arduous search for a new job. Through these experiences, I’ve gained valuable skills and knowledge in different industry sectors, including drug development, consulting, occupational health, and consumer products. Ultimately, my dedication and my ability to adapt allowed me to find a fulfilling career in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Of Science and Service
First and foremost, I am a scientist. Throughout my career, I have put scientific principles and integrity first. I have always been curious about what contributions new approaches and methodologies can offer, and where they can help bridge scientific gaps and improve our understanding of the safety profile of new molecular entities. I am a life-long learner, and the science of toxicology is an ever-evolving field. Keeping abreast of the science is a fundamental (technical) skill that must be nurtured. While pursuing my scientific interests, I have found that getting involved in professional and scientific organizations, such as ACT, is a fulfilling way to expand my knowledge in areas of interest and build a strong professional network. In addition, I have maintained ties with Rutgers, where I teach graduate students in the Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology. I am grateful for this opportunity to share knowledge and foster the next generation of scientists.
Parting Words
Whether it’s scientific/technical knowledge, internal strategy, or management skills, you can always find opportunities to learn and grow in any job experience. Kindness and helpfulness are invaluable qualities in any professional setting; by offering assistance to others, you not only build strong relationships but also open the door to collaborations. Career satisfaction can take different forms depending on the person. Some will find it through mentoring aspiring toxicologists, while others will find it by becoming experts in a highly specific subfield or managing a large team. Ultimately, a fulfilling career is one that aligns with your passions and goals, and I can confidently say that there’s a fulfilling career out there for everyone.
I’m grateful for the rollercoaster ride that has shaped me into the professional I am today. For me, career fulfillment is not about reaching a specific destination, but about enjoying the journey and making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.
Developmental Aspects of a Resilient Toxicologist (DART)
Sunjay Sethi, PhD, DABT
Introduction
Growing up most people hear some form of the phrase, “It’s who you know.” There are multiple ways to interpret that phrase, and one way is understanding that the connections you make and maintain can have a lasting impact on your life. As I began my development as a toxicologist, I really took that to heart and made an active effort to align myself with strong mentors, understand what mentoring style worked well for me, and to act as a mentor myself when given the opportunity. In this presentation I focused on navigating different mentoring/management styles and how advocating for a style that works well for both the mentee and mentor leads to both of their successes.
Career Path
My high school chemistry teacher was so engaging that chemistry quickly became my favorite class in school. I first discovered toxicology when that same teacher had us watch the movie, Erin Brokovich. From that point on I knew I wanted to do some sort of human health related science that involved chemistry. It turned out that the University of California at Davis (UC Davis) had an undergraduate degree in Environmental Toxicology, so I pursued my degree while conducting research on environmental pollutants and risk for metabolic disorders. I also completed two summer internships with Chevron and after discussion with my mentor at UC Davis and multiple colleagues at Chevron, I realized a PhD in Toxicology was going to propel me in my career path and decided to attend graduate school. These career discussions with folks from different employment sectors in aspirational positions were critical in shaping my career path. I completed my PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from UC Davis with a focus on developmental neurotoxicology and then joined industry as a full-time research scientist at a contract research organization.
Navigating Mentoring and Management Styles
The transition from academia to industry can be a notable change for some. For myself, it was difficult to let go of the feeling of constantly needing to be working on your projects. I started my research scientist role pushing myself too hard, but never voiced that to my manager. I worked longer hours than I probably needed to because of the pressure I had put on myself. After working this way for months and months, I needed to take a pause and sit down with my manager to discuss potentially slowing down, but at this point it becomes difficult to pull back. My manager had no knowledge that I had been pushing myself to my limits because I was not vocal about this, and although they may have wanted to act on this, the work that I had taken on still needed to be completed. This puts a manager in a tricky situation and we both had to work together to find a workable resolution. I’m sharing this story because this was one of the most important lessons I learned in my career. I should have started this position with an open conversation with my manager about my working style, their working style, and how we both prefer to communicate. This may have fostered a more open environment between the both of us going forward, which can make bringing up workload or managing stressful periods an easier topic to broach.
This lesson also taught me that it is best to say something ahead of time rather than when you’re in the moment. It may seem obvious, but having foresight will allow you to bring up and manage situations much better than if you deal with them in real time. Discussing my current, but also future work and how I’m prioritizing the projects I’m working on has worked very well for me and the managers that I’ve had throughout my career.
Paying It Forward
Acting as a mentor to others has also furthered my development as a toxicologist because it reinforces the knowledge you already know, expands your network of colleagues, and you likely end up learning something new from various mentees. I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to give a seminar at UC Davis about applying a PhD in toxicology in industry because the speakers who came in and did that for me when I was a graduate student were monumental in helping shape my career path to be what it is today. Interacting with different trainees at various levels has helped me understand different mentoring styles and further reinforces my own knowledge as a toxicologist. As a mentor I’m actively describing situations I’ve worked through or various biological pathways that intertwine and relate to toxicology findings. These experiences allow me to grow my communication skills and solidify my toxicology background, which both contribute to being a more well-rounded individual.
Parting Words
The “who you know” is an important piece of life but remember to focus on how you know them as well. Fostering an open collaborative mentorship based on both the mentee and mentor’s communication styles sets all parties up for success.
Lifetime Exposure to a Company
Robert Roy, PhD, DABT, Fellow ATS
Introduction
As you begin, or are moving through your toxicology career, please give serious thought to the many ways you can make your career both personally and professionally rewarding and, at the same time, hopefully, have a good time doing it! This talk focused on some examples / aspects that I have found very worthwhile to consider and that have both worked for, and helped me, along the way in my toxicology career.
Career Path
I’d bet that when asked after high school graduation what our plans were for our college major, many of us probably didn’t have a real clue, but said something like “engineering,” “biology,” “education,” “business,” etc. Well, I was certainly one of those kids, but I loved (and still do) history and really gave it serious thought for a major in college. But, as luck would have it, I found myself in an introductory chemistry course taught by a great professor and was hooked! Our professor made chemistry fun (and sometimes easy…really….). From there it was more chemistry and then biology and then, voila!—graduation. I had applied and received admission letters, both within the same week, to dental school and graduate school (PhD program in Pharmacology)—the latter paying tuition, fees and a stipend (no contest there)! I entered a pharmacology graduate program and then, after 2 years of classes and research, said “not for me right now.” I made the decision to leave the program because of a lot of things going on for me at the time; however, I always knew that somehow, I WAS going to go back to “science.” You may know that Winston Churchill had what he called his “wilderness years.” I did as well and looking back, I see this as a time when I was enjoying myself, focusing on an area other than science, and waiting for the right opportunity to point me in the direction of a fulfilling career path.
After 2 years of running a park and recreation center, I went back to graduate school and earned an MS and PhD in toxicology (my pharmacology background really helped me). Upon graduation, I worked as a toxicologist at a state health department, did contract toxicology work for various consumer and agricultural companies and then worked at a global Fortune 500 company for 26 years as a corporate toxicologist. I retired just over a year and a half ago from that company and am still working in the toxicology field as a consultant, faculty member at a university, and as am member of various global toxicology committees. At this point, I can say with all honesty that I still love working as a toxicologist!
Navigating [And Enjoying] a Career as a Corporate Toxicologist
I’m not sure if many people stay with the same company for 25+ years anymore—but I did, and don’t have many [real] regrets about doing so. Of course, there were several professional “ups and downs” over that time (both within and outside of, my control); luckily (cliché time)—the majority were “ups.” In my experience, the “downs” are inevitable in corporate careers, and come in many different forms for example, shifting “day-to-day work priorities,” budget cuts (travel freezes, not backfilling positions), increased workload/technical expectations, wonderful colleagues leaving, and working remotely. Additionally, throughout our careers, events in our personal lives can all impact each of these “downs,” at the time, in a seemingly, synergistic way. So, with that said, I will focus on how the “ups” or “highlights” made those “downs” much easier to navigate.
Throughout my career, key highlights include having exceptional colleagues, collaborating with others, continued learning, teaching / mentoring, and being involved with committees and organizations. For the first, I believe I was lucky (and hopefully you have or will as well). To work with smart, exceptionally nice and fun colleagues over the years (many of which are still good friends of mine—Yay!). Like “they” say, you can’t pick your relatives; you can’t pick the people you work with 8+ hours/day. I was also fortunate to know some of the people that I would be working with before I accepted the corporate job. Secondly, the constant collaboration with, and learning from my trusted colleagues made, without a doubt, “keeping my head in the game” much easier and rewarding for me. There was value in continued learning at my company as well as alignment with what the company valued and what I found interesting and rewarding (i.e., human health risk assessment, derivation of exposure limits, and focused areas of global regulatory toxicology). I also fully enjoyed teaching and mentoring, both in my role as a senior corporate toxicologist (e.g., to newly hired toxicology colleagues, industrial hygienists, occupational physicians, technical and regulatory staff, and attorneys), as well as to graduate students in the university setting and professionals via continuing education classes. Another highlight is being, and staying, actively involved in various internal technical committees as well as external toxicology committees, working groups and professional organizations. For example, I have always met remarkable toxicologists and make good friends through my involvement in ACT and SOT (including my regional chapter and specialty sections). Lastly, I really believe that we all want to make a lasting, positive impact on our professional toxicology careers, whether it be in the workplace, via our leadership activities, who we taught or mentored, or in the groups and organizations to which we volunteered our time and experience. All this is certainly well and good and hopefully to be strived for, but please also try to remember how your career makes you feel personally. Meaning always to strive to do your best, keep learning and most importantly, do things that bring you peace of mind.
Parting Words
Moral of this toxicology career story? The path to a successful and personally rewarding [toxicology] career is very seldom a nice straight, flat, paved route—it’s sometimes challenging and very difficult. Try not to let the inevitable potholes, seemingly dead ends or even your own “wilderness years” throw you off course—hang in there. Have fun, keep learning, stay actively involved in committees/organizations (hint: start early in your career), collaborate with others (you meet wonderful people and make great friends), and I truly hope that you find yourself saying/thinking many times during your toxicology career, “I made the right choice(s)” and “I’m having a great time!”.
Conclusion
This article presents insights and perspectives from toxicology professionals as they reflect upon their careers, experiences, and offer valuable advice. This session was highly engaging and inspiring, resonating deeply with attendees who subsequently approached the speakers afterwards to convey their appreciation for the insights provided. While the panelists represented different sectors and career stages, they identified similar challenges, career highlights, and key characteristics of success in the field of toxicology.
Footnotes
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge and thank Dr Ray Zhang for presenting in the session and Dr Jorg Blumel for serving as the moderator of the panel portion of the Symposium. The authors would also like to thank Robin Guy and Dr Bill Brock their guidance, as well as the American College of Toxicology for supporting this workshop, especially, the ACT Program Committee, Jordan Ballance Ehler, and Becca Isakower.
Author Contributions
Graham, J. contributed to conception and design and contributed to acquisition, analysis, and interpretation, drafted manuscript, and critically revised manuscript; Bercu, J., Fortin, M., Kiorpes, A., and Sethi, S. contributed to conception and design, drafted manuscript, and critically revised manuscript; Roy, R. contributed to conception and design and drafted manuscript. All authors gave final approval and agree to be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring integrity and accuracy.
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
