Summer Research Training Program
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The Summer Research Training Program (SRTP) at Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) offers 10 to 15 first- and second-year veterinary students the opportunity to gain hands-on summer research experience for 10 to 12-weeks in veterinary and biomedical sciences. Since 1995, the program has paired students with faculty mentors to conduct individual research projects, which are presented at OSU’s annual research day. Students also participate in weekly seminars on topics like ethics, experimental design, and data analysis, while engaging in professional development workshops covering alternate career paths in research, industry, academia, and other government agencies. In addition to conducting research, students attend the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium (NVSS) in Spokane, WA, where they present their work and network with peers and faculty from veterinary schools across North America. Past participants have found the program valuable for career development and academic growth.

Research Projects: Selected students work on projects in various fields, including infectious diseases, cancer biology, cardiovascular & respiratory physiology, disease epidemiology & bioinformatics, neurobiology & immunology, large and small animal medicine, toxicology & pharmacology, and exotic animal research.

Program Funding & Salary: The 2025 SRTP is funded by Boehringer Ingelheim and matching funds from OSU CVM, and other OSU departments/colleges. Each student receives a taxable salary of $541.67/week (totaling $6,500) for the 12-week program. Travel and accommodation for the NVSS meeting are also covered.

Objectives: The primary objectives of SRTP are to i) Enhance research skills in veterinary science and biomedical research and ii) Professional development through exposure to workshops and discussion of careers in veterinary research, academia, and industry.

Eligibility: First- and second-year DVM students in good academic standing.

Application information: The application portal opens on February 1, 2025, and closes on February 28, 2025.

• ELIGIBILITY
  1. First- and second-year veterinary students in good academic standing from veterinary school within and outside the USA are encouraged to apply.
  2. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of application and must not be on academic probation.
  3. Applicants must agree to all expectations and conditions associated with the SRTP award. They must also commit to attending all scheduled events, presentations, and courses during the 10–12-week program.
  4. Previous SRTP award recipients are welcome to apply for a second year of funding.
• HOW TO APPLY FOR SRTP

  Application Deadline: February 28, 2025
  
  

  Preparation for SRTP application:
  
  

  1. Students are encouraged to attend the SRTP introduction/discussion meeting arranged during the 1st or 2nd week of January.
  2. Prior to submission of the application, each student is required to meet with at-least three faculty mentors with research programs that align with student interests.
  3. Students can also meet with previous cohorts of SRTP students to gather information related to previous SRTP experiences, lab environments, research projects, and mentor commitments.
  4. Review eligibility, student expectations, and other documents on the SRTP website to ensure that the students understand responsibilities and are committed to participating in SRTP.

  Application Submission:
  
  

  1. The application portal in the OSU SRTP website opens on the 1st of February. The application is a fillable document available on the OSU SRTP website.
  2. List potential mentors in order of your preference.
  3. Required documents:
     a) A curriculum vitae (education, work details, and research experience).
     b) A one-page ‘statement of purpose/essay’ describing motivation for your interest in summer research training participation (single spaced and font size of 11).
  4. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the application is complete and submitted by the February 28, 2025.
• HOW TO SELECT MENTOR AND RESEARCH PROGRAM
  The students who have decided to apply for the OSU SRTP are encouraged to reach out to potential mentors as early as possible since it may take more than one attempt to make contact. Here are a few steps to assist you in your search for the mentor that will best meet your needs.

  • Visit OSU SRTP mentor pages. You can search by research topic or mentor name alphabetically.
  • Read the mentor's research through OSU expert directory and the most recent publications in PubMed to see if mentors research area aligns with your research interests.
  • Make an appointment with at least three potential mentors and visit their labs or learn about their research program before making a decision.
  • Discuss potential projects with the mentors, training, and expectations for the summer.
  • Visit the OSU SRTP page and look for previous SRTP students that have worked in the labs of potential mentors. Reach out to them via email and ask about their experience.
• STUDENT MATCHING AND SELECTION
  Mentor and research scholar matching: SRTP applicants are provided an opportunity to learn about mentors and their research programs (through mentor’s research projects on the SRTP website, PUBMED/Google Scholar). Students are required to meet with 3 potential mentors and discuss potential projects based on mutual research interests. International students are advised to meet potential mentors via Zoom or Microsoft teams. Students will list mentor names on the application in the order of preference/mutual interest following the meeting.

   

  Research scholar ranking and selection: Upon successful submission of the application, SRTP director and codirectors meet to discuss applications. Students will be ranked based on GPA (50%, average of undergraduate and current DVM GPA) and a personal research statement/essay (50%). Top ranked student will be matched with 1^st preference mentor. If more than 1 student prefer a mentor, then next ranked student will be matched with 2^nd preference mentor. Students and mentors are notified of the selection and match at-least one month ahead of the program start date.
• SEMINAR SCHEDULE  

  Table 2	General Schedule	Presenters/Participants(Tentative)
  05/19/2025(9AM-11AM)	Orientation:SRTP committee (McElroy Hall 101)	SRTP committee/OSU Faculty
  05/27/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Experimental Designs and Analysis (McElroy Hall 115- Alumni Conference Room)	Dr. Channappanavar
  06/03/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Research Ethics/Responsible Conduct of Research	Dr. Malayer/Dr. Lovern
  06/10/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Abstract and Poster Presentation	Dr. Butcher
  06/17/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Tips for writing scientific articles	Dr. Rudd
  06/24/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Student Presentations:Introductions and Methods	Student presentation Practice
  07/01/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Panel discussion: Careers in Academia Vs Industry Vs Management	Experts in Industry, Academic & Management
  07/08/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Panel discussion: Public Health and Animal Disease Diagnostic Labs	Experts from public health & diagnostic labs
  07/15/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Panel discussion: Lab animal/ Pathology/Parasitology/Microbiology residency & certifications	Dr. Ford, Dr. Duncan, Dr. Rudd
  07/22/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Panel discussion: Internship and residency (including exotic animal)	Various House Officers & Dr. Brandao
  07/29/2025(3:00PM to 5:00 PM)	Student Research Presentations	Student Practice
  08/01/2025(9AM to 11AM)	OSU Poster Day (140 RJP)	CVM & OSU research community
  08/07/2025-08/09/2025	National Veterinary Scholars Symposium! (Spokane, WA)	TBD

• SRTP MENTORS

  Please review the list of SRTP mentors here. 

• EXPECTATIONS FROM SRTP STUDENTS

  The students accepted and enrolled in the SRTP agree to the following conditions.

  1. Salary and NVSS travel support: Student accepted into the SRTP agree to receive a total amount of $6500 in salary ($541.67 per week for 12 weeks). Airfare, hotel accommodation, and registration fee to attend NVSS in Spokane (WA) will be separately arranged/provided by CVM.
  2. Full-Time Commitment: SRTP students are required to dedicate full-time effort to their project for the entire award period. Students cannot engage in any other activities—volunteer or paid—that may conflict with or interfere with their ability to participate fully in their summer research activities.
  3. Research Duration: Students are expected to conduct research full-time for 10–12 weeks from May 19 to August 9, 2025. Any absence must be discussed with the SRTP director/co-director and faculty mentor. Absences due to illness or family emergencies will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  4. Weekly work hours: Students are expected to dedicate 40 hours/week to project-related activities. Occasionally, some projects may require commitment outside the regular work hours or on weekends. Students are encouraged to remain flexible to ensure successful completion of the project. Any additional work assignments are based on mentor and student mutual understanding.
  5. Mandatory Attendance: Participation in weekly workshops, poster presentations, and the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium (NVSS) in Spokane (WA) is mandatory.
  6. Exclusive Funding: If a student receives SRTP funding and funding from another source for the same or another summer project, they must choose between the SRTP award and the other funding source. Students cannot accept SRTP funding if they have already received funding for the summer from another source.
  7. NVSS Participation and Poster Presentation: All students must present their project outline and complete a poster to be presented at the OSU SRTP Poster Day, held during the first week of August (August 1, 2025). It is mandatory for students to attend NVSS held in Spokane (WA) from August 7^th to 9^th, 2025. Students are expected to present their poster during NVSS meeting.
  8. Acknowledgment of Funding: SRTP funding support must be acknowledged in any publications resulting from the research project. Students should be aware that individual funding sources supporting the SRTP may have additional requirements for presenting research findings (e.g., poster presentations, oral presentations, attendance at national conferences, etc.). All SRTP posters, presentations, and subsequent publications must recognize the OSU SRTP and funding source. For example, funding acknowledgment should state: “Funding was provided by the Summer Research Training Program funds through Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine.”
• EXPECTATIONS FROM SRTP MENTORS

  We know this program would not be possible without the fantastic mentors that allow our DVM students to be a part of their research program this summer. We are truly grateful for your support! Below is a timeline and some general expectations for our mentors.

   

  Mentor Expectations:

  1. Interview Process: SRTP is open to all veterinary students—both international and national—mentors may receive requests from around the globe. Mentors are not obligated to interview or accept a student if they are not comfortable doing so. It is ok to request a resume or information about prior lab experience before the interview. If you feel a student would not be a good fit for your research program, there are no further obligations. Mentors are encouraged to discuss potential projects and clearly communicate their expectations during the interview.
  2. Matching and Agreement: Once the application and selection process is complete, faculty mentors and students will be notified of their match. Both mentors and students will need to acknowledge the student’s placement in the lab for the summer program.
  3. Prior training expectations: Given that SRTP students may have varying levels of research experience—some with no prior lab exposure—mentors should assume a zero-baseline skillset and provide all necessary training to carry out the proposed project.
  4. Required Compliance Approvals: Mentors must complete all necessary IRB, IBC, or IACUC paperwork before the start of the summer program. This ensures that students can begin training and research work immediately upon joining the lab, maximizing productivity. The SRTP 2025 runs from 19^th May to 9^th August (including one-week break mutually acceptable to both mentor and student).
  5. Funding and Supplies: The SRTP provides only the student’s salary. Mentors should ensure that they have sufficient funds for necessary supplies and reagents for the summer project.
  6. Defined Project: Mentors are expected to design a well-defined hypothesis-driven project that can be completed within 10-weeks. Project should aim to generate data suitable for presentation at both the OSU SRTP Poster Day (August 1, 2025) and the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium in Spokane, WA (August 7–9, 2025). We recommend planning a project that can generate data within 10 weeks, leaving the final two weeks for preparation for OSU Poster Day and the NVSS conference.
  7. Work hours: Mentors can expect full-time student participation in summer research during regular work hours of weekdays (typically 35–40 hrs/week). If research requires occasional late hours or weekend participation (which it often does), please feel free to communicate with students in advance.
  8. Active Mentorship: Mentors are expected to actively engage in mentoring, student training, and research activities. While it is acceptable for graduate students or other lab members to train students on research techniques and projects activities, the mentors should aim to be available for a substantial portion of the summer. While we understand that summer is often a quieter time for academicians, we ask that faculty mentors remain present for most of the program.
  9. Additional Activities: Students are required to attend a weekly seminar. Mentors are also welcome to participate in informal events, such as the kick-off BBQ or lab tours. These events are not only enjoyable but also provide opportunities to meet new colleagues and potential collaborators.
  10. Post-summer elective research: If the project requires additional time for completion and student and mentor is willing to continue, mentor can ask student to enroll in DVM research elective course (3-6 hrs per week, IOR: Dr. Jerry Malayer) to continue working on the project after the SRTP.

  Have Fun This Summer! We hope this program is as rewarding for you as it is for our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the SRTP committee via email or phone.

• STUDENT RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS OPPORTUNITIES

  AVMA/AVMF 2nd Opportunity Summer Research Stipend

  Applications Open:

  Early Fall

  Application close:

  Late Fall

  Award Notification:

  End of the fall or early Spring

   

  2025 FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellowship

   

  Application Period Open:
  January 15, 2025, at noon EST

  Applications Due:
  February 26, 2025, at 5:00 pm EST

  Award Notification:
  April 21, 2025

  Project Timeline:
  Summer 2025 – August 2026

   

  • Morris Animal Foundation- Veterinary Student Scholars

  Application Open:              

  December

  Application Deadline:        

  late Jan/ early Feb

  Award Notification:            

  April

   

  • Hoveida Family Foundation Research Scholarship

  Application Open:              

  September

  Application Deadline:        

  October

  Award Notification:            

  Nov/Dec

   

  • CGS/IDEXX Veterinary Student Summer Scholar Award

    • Award is available to a student who is willing to work on a 12-week research project in the field of veterinary or comparative gastroenterology.

  Application Open:                 

  January

  Application Deadline:           

  Early February

  Award Notification:               

  End of February

   

   

  • Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research (SIPBR) For Veterinary Medical Students at NH

  Application Open:                

  Mid November

  Application Deadline:          

  Early January

  Interview:                             

  Feb/March

  Award Notification:             

  March

   

  • Kennedy Krieger Institute: James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program

    • Fellowship Program is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded program designed to support public health research and professional development in infectious diseases and eliminate health disparities.

  Application Deadline:        

  January 31^st 2025

   

  • AAVMC- CIVME grant

  Application Open:              

  September

  Application Deadline:        

  Late Nov/early Dec

  Award Notification:            

  Early Spring

• US VETERINARY COLLEGES WITH SUMMER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

  Note: Please visit websites and contact program directors to check if you are eligible to apply to summer research program at other veterinary colleges.

   

  COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Summer Scholars Program

   

   

  CORNELL UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine

  Veterinary Investigation & Leadership Program (VILP)

   

   

  IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Summer Scholar Research Program

   

   

  KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Research Scholars Program

   

   

  LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY

  School of Veterinary Medicine Summer Scholars Program

   

   

  MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine DVM Summer Research Program

   

   

  MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Summer Research Experience

   

   

  NORTH CAROLINE STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Scholars Program

   

   

  OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Summer Research Training Program

   

   

  OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

  Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine

  Biomedical Sciences Summer Research Program

   

   

  PURDUE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program

   

   

  TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY

  Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences VMSRTP

   

   

  THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinary Scholar Summer Research Program

   

   

  TUFTS UNIVERSITY

  Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Student Research Training Programs

   

   

  TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Tuskegee Veterinary Scholars Program: Veterinary 

   

   

  UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DAVIS

  Veterinary Medicine

  Students Training in Advanced Research (STAR) Program

   

   

  UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

  College of Veterinary Medicine

  Florida Veterinary Scholars Program

   

  UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN

  College of Veterinary Medicine Summer Research Program

   

   

  UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

  College of Veterinary Medicine Georgia Veterinary Scholars Program

   

   

  UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

  College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Summer Scholars

   

   

  UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  PennVet NIH/Boehringer Ingelheim Summer Research Program

   

   

  VIRGINIA-MARYLAND

  COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Summer Veterinary Student Research Program

   

  WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine

  Veterinary Student Summer Research Fellowship Program

   

   

  WESTERN UNIVERSITY

  College of Veterinary Medicine Summer Research Program

Other opportunities:

BIVSP summer scholars research opportunity