T35 Summer Research Fellowship

The research project is the most important part of the Program. The goals of the research project are to have students address a significant experimental question, work independently and with other researchers, and produce and publish results. The Program matches students with a mentor (see list of faculty) according to research interests. The mentor outlines a focused project for the student to perform in their laboratory. Students become completely involved in their assigned laboratory – participating in laboratory meetings and social events, attending seminars with other members of their laboratory, and working on their research project at least 40 hours/week.

Comment from previous participant:

The most desirable aspects of a career in research for a veterinarian based on my experience are the freedom to both direct your own research and ask the big questions or to work collaboratively on a number of different types of projects. It is also very appealing that you can work with a wide variety of species and address big questions that may benefit many species including humans.

Students select and present in journal club format a research article of their choice to their fellow students.

Through a series of weekly lunches, veterinarians in the Department of Comparative Medicine (see list of faculty) meet with students and share their own career development experiences, answer questions, and discuss research career opportunities for veterinarians. Faculty of the Department of Comparative Medicine have a broad range of training experiences in widely differing institutions, and address a range of options for students with various interests and goals.

Comment from previous participant:

I thought I had a pretty good idea of the diversity of what can be done with a DVM degree. I thought that I might not want/need a PhD. Interacting with an inspiring group of professional veterinary research scientists all summer illustrated that there are even a thousand more ways in which to use a DVM degree than I had thought. And I am pretty convinced I want to go get a PhD - in what exactly and where, I am not sure. But I have a craving for research and I think that will serve me well throughout my entire career.