CSS James A. Swenberg Carcinogenesis Merit Award for Junior Faculty Members Grant

The CSS James A. Swenberg Carcinogenesis Merit Award recognizes junior faculty who contribute to transformative carcinogenesis research. Funded by the Society of Toxicology, the award includes a $1,000 cash prize, a recognition plaque, and an opportunity to present at the SOT Annual Meeting. Eligible candidates must be section members, hold relevant academic appointments, and be within 15 years of their highest degree. This award honors Professor Swenberg's legacy in advancing toxicology and cancer research.

The goal of the James A. Swenberg Carcinogenesis Merit Award Fund is to encourage junior faculty members to conduct transformative mechanistic research in the field of carcinogenesis. The fund is used to recognize outstanding individuals for their cumulative contribution to advancements in understanding the mechanisms of environmental agent-associated carcinogenesis. One award will be given each year. The awardee will receive a cash award of $1,000, a plaque of recognition, and be asked to give a brief presentation of their work (~10 min) in chemical carcinogenesis at the Carcinogenesis Specialty Section Meeting/Reception during the SOT Annual Meeting.
Background
The Carcinogenesis Specialty Section (CSS) is one of the oldest specialty sections within SOT and its members have made seminal contributions to the field of toxicology and the Society. The membership of this specialty section is multidisciplinary and drawn from academia, industry, and government. The current range of interests of CSS members include the understanding of genetic susceptibility to disease phenotypes at the molecular, cellular, whole organism, and population level as well as understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie functional changes due to toxicology and carcinogenesis. Professor James A. Swenberg has been a longtime member of the Carcinogenesis Specialty Section. He is Kenan Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sciences in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health’s Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering. He earned a DVM degree from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in Veterinary Pathology from Ohio State University. Professor Swenberg had a distinguished career in toxicology and his research has made seminal contribution to the field of biomarkers of DNA damage and understanding of how environmental agents may cause cancer through genotoxic mechanisms. Professor Swenberg has been a relentless promoter of scientific, service, and educational excellence in his trainees; many of them are holding faculty positions in the United States and abroad. The investment of his time, energy and wisdom into promoting junior faculty to success in academia was immense and will be recognized through this endowment fund.

Eligibility

Member of the Carcinogenesis Specialty Section at the time of the award. Holds an appointment as a tenure- or research-track assistant professor in an academic institution (or equivalent) in the United States or abroad. Fewer than 15 years since obtaining the highest earned degree (in the year of the Annual Meeting of the Society of Toxicology). Applicants can be self-nominated or nominated by their peers.