VetMed Research Scholars Application and Eligibility
Students must complete an application that includes information about the student's academic background, research background, and a statement of the student's interest and motivation for the program. The application also allows the student to indicate his or her area of research interest. In addition, students must obtain a letter of recommendation from a professional that evaluates the applicant's potential interest in research. If students identify a mentor with whom they would like to work, we also encourage inclusion of a letter (or email) from the potential mentor confirming availability of a project and a commitment to the student. Application deadline is February 1 of each year. Applicants will be notified of their selection status by the first week of March.
PDF Application
Applications should be emailed to Stephanie Huffman at huffman@cvm.msstate.edu
Financial Support
This program is generously funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, BI Veterinary Scholars Program, and through funds provided by the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar Program
The Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) Veterinary Student Scholar Program also funds summer research projects for veterinary students in the areas of animal health and/or welfare. MAF funds research projects that benefit large companion animals, small companion animals, or wildlife/special species. This program is nationally competitive, and MAF announces its grant awardees in March of each year. To apply, students must first identify a research faculty member willing to serve as mentor. Together, the student and mentor develop a research proposal following the program guidelines. The full proposal needs to be submitted to the MSU CVM Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies ten days prior to the MAF deadline. Selected applications will be submitted to the Morris Animal Foundation.
Research Component
For the research component, each student in the Summer Research Experience works with a faculty mentor who has a matching research interest on a relevant medical or veterinary problem. Through interaction with the mentor, trainees receive training in the formulation of a testable hypothesis and in the design of an appropriate experimental strategy. Trainees conduct research in the faculty mentor’s lab, and they work under their mentor and other laboratory personnel to gather data, analyze, and interpret their findings. Trainees then prepare and present their research results at the MSU CVM Research Day and the BI-NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium. Through this process, trainees learn the value of creative and critical thinking in research, and they receive practical experience in conducting, analyzing, and presenting their research findings.
Click below for summaries of research projects conducted over recent years:
2024
2023
2022
Educational Component
Much of the educational component occurs early in the program. Training is generally in the form of interactive workshops that prepare students for their research experience and provide them with leadership skills and career guidance. Training sessions include:
- Ethics in Science and Research
- Humane Use of Animals in Research
- Scientific Writing and Presentations
- Writing and Rewriting Grant Proposals
- Effectively using Library Resources to Support Research
- Patenting and Technology Transfer
- Career lunchtime talks featuring veterinarians representing different research career paths
- Veterinarians in leadership roles, representing academia, industry and government career paths
- Laboratory Safety and Biosafety
- Preparing a CV and Cover Letter
The educational component also includes visits to laboratory animal and veterinary diagnostic facilities and allows for periodic meetings between program directors, trainees, and mentors during the summer. It concludes in the BI-NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium, which is held annually at a US college of veterinary medicine. At the symposium, trainees present their research findings, attend sessions presented by national leaders in research and the veterinary profession, and interact with fellow veterinary student trainees from across the United States.
Additional Opportunties
Students may also be interested in the National Boehringer-Ingelheim (BI) Veterinary Scholar Program or other competitive summer training programs offered by the National Institutes of Health.
BI Veterinary Scholar Program
NIH Summer Programs
