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Summer Veterinary Student Research Program


The Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) calls for applications to the Summer Veterinary Student Research Program (SVSRP) from veterinary students in their first or second year of training with an interest in a research career. The SVSRP is sponsored by both the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) at the National Institutes of Health. For the summer of 2007 we have four awards to offer. The Program Director for SVSRP is Dr. Ansar Ahmed.
 
Inquiries about SVSRP should be addressed to T35svsrp@vt.edu.


Announcement

The application deadline for the SVSRP is midnight on Monday, February 18, 2008.

 
Objective

Dr. MengThe objective of the Summer Veterinary Student Research Program (SVSRP) is to encourage veterinary students to choose a biomedical research career and to pursue post-graduate research opportunities. Veterinarians with their unique perspective are so much in demand in research careers that VMRCVM obtained sponsorship from the NIH. To achieve our objective we have identified six key success factors:

  • Close interaction of high-quality students who show an interest in a research career path with enthusiastic, competent scientists as mentors;
  • Educational activities that support a fundamental learning experience in biomedical research;
  • Exposure to veterinarians who have chosen to pursue a biomedical research career;
  • Strong follow-up program ensuring research options for program alumni;
  • Creation of a well-connected cohort of students in the second and third year class who share an interest in a research career path; and
  • Continued improvement year-to-year through feedback gained from an assessment program.

 
Program Description

ResearchIn Fall 2006, the VMRCVM received funding for a T35 award from the NCRR for a Summer Veterinary Student Research Program (SVSRP) though we have been running a summer research program for veterinary students for ten years. This award means that six veterinary students will go through the same summer program in 2008. As a result of the many group experiences, this will create a supportive group within the second, third, and fourth year DVM classes interested in pursuing a biomedical research career. Another recent award from NIH to support post-DVM animal model research for veterinarians (AMRV) provides three years of funding to graduate veterinarians who may have gone through the SVSRP (or similar programs at other veterinary medical colleges) so they may start their research careers.

Our program in 2008 will extend over a period of eleven weeks starting on May 18 (see timeline), including one week of orientation with a two day visit to various agencies in Washington DC, nine and a half weeks of mentor-guided summer research, as well as the capstone presentation of summer research findings at the Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholars Symposium in the last three days of the program, from July 31-Aug 2. This training also includes a weekly seminar on the ethical conduct of research or careers for veterinarians in research.

 
Funding

SVSRP trainees will receive a stipend which will be provided on May 31st, June 16th, June 30th, July 16th, July 31st, and August 16th by direct deposit to the bank account provided by the Scholar. Travel, lodging and food for the DC visit and symposium will be reimbursed. Furthermore, students visiting from another veterinary medical college will be given an additional $1,500 to cover additional housing expenses.

 
Contact

For additional information about this program or assistance with the application process, please send email to T35svsrp@vt.edu or call Becky Jones at 540-231-4992.