June 28, 2017
St. John’s University students, Siddharth Sunilkumar, Natalie N. Orie, and Trudi Denoon, have been selected to participate in the Science Alliance Leadership Training (SALT) at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) in Manhattan this summer.
Sunilkumar, Orie, and Denoon are pursuing their doctoral degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences, specializing in toxicology.
“Too often graduate students focus on their research and teaching responsibilities and do not have the opportunity to develop other professional skills. The NYAS Science Alliance Leadership Training program will focus on much needed soft skills such as self-assessment, interpersonal communication, networking, and conflict resolution,” said Sue Ford, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at St. John’s University.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has provided a grant to support SALT for 12 months. The training program will have two components: in person and virtual lectures as its main focus. The in-person program will take place from July 10-14 at NYAS.
“As a mentor, I am also excited that SALT will broaden our doctoral students’ experience by investing them in the larger scientific community through significant interaction with participants from other disciplines and institutions,” added Ford. “I am delighted that three of our students were selected for this prestigious program which will prepare them for leadership roles in their careers.”
Eight virtual lectures will then be organized in the following 10 months after the in-person program. These virtual lectures will cover topics that were not covered in the in-person component.
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About Science Alliance Leadership Training (SALT)
The first program of its type, SALT is a program designed to familiarize exceptional undergraduate students and graduate students in the STEM fields with the leadership concepts that will allow them to effectively advocate for their career. The program features small group exercises, a leadership development plan, networking opportunities, and community building among participants.