How to Apply

Applicant Eligibility

Students must be enrolled and have successfully completed the first year of veterinary school in good academic standing; they cannot have completed the veterinary degree at the time of participation in the program. We welcome students from any college of veterinary medicine in the United States to apply to our program. No prior experience in research is required.

Students with their backs to the camera, showing VMRS shirts


Application Process

Elements of the application include:

  • an application form completed by the student. The application includes information on 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.
  • a letter from a professional that evaluates the applicant's potential and 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 that potential mentor confirming availability of a project and commitment to the student.

PDF Application

Submit your application via email:

huffman@cvm.msstate.edu


Application Deadline and Selection Process

The application deadline is February 1 of the year in which you are applying to participate in summer research. Applicants will be notified whether they were selected for the program by the first week of March. For non-MSU students, the start date will depend on each student’s academic schedule.


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. Student trainees receive a stipend of approximately $7086 for the entire 12-week program. 

Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar Program

Morris Animal Foundation LogoThe 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.