A University of Kentucky researcher has earned the Undergraduate Educator Award from the Society of Toxicology (SOT).

Hollie Swanson, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences in the UK College of Medicine and is the founder of the Summer Undergraduate Research in Environmental Health Sciences (SURES) program, a multidisciplinary research-training program geared toward undergraduates who have an interest in pursuing a career in environmental health sciences that begin in 2016. 

SOT is a professional and scholarly organization of scientists from academic institutions, government and industry who practice toxicology in the U.S. and abroad. This award recognizes an SOT member’s contributions and efforts to the teaching of undergraduate students in toxicology and related areas.

“One of the greatest joys in my career has been working with our talented undergraduates, watching their careers blossom and knowing that my actions contributed to their success,” Swanson said. “It is a such an honor to now be recognized for this work by my professional society.”

Swanson also serves as the director of graduate studies for integrated biomedical sciences, as graduate faculty in nutritional sciences, and on the UK Board of Trustees since 2020.

Her research on drug metabolism and the health impacts of environmental contaminants has been continuously funded by the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences since 1996.