Application for 2025 Program is Closed
The application for the 2026 program will open Fall 2025.
Under the guidance of a College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences faculty mentor, complete a 12-week research project during the summer term. Veterinary students gain experience in hypothesis-based research in comparative and veterinary medicine. The program culminates in a research symposium, where students present their research findings to faculty and peers. Funded projects will provide student stipend.
2025 Program Dates: May 19-August 8
Program Activities
Seminars and workshops
Topics include:
-
- Conducting ethical and responsible research
- Scientific dialogue and communication
- Effective grantsmanship and the development of hypothesis-driven research
- Clinical trials and clinical research design
- Preparing and presenting scientific data as an oral talk or poster
- Research careers in the veterinary sciences
- Rodent handling
Tours
Optional tours are to be determined. Previous destinations have included Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Research Center, Soapstone Prairie Natural Area, CSU Spur, and The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg to participate in tours and learn about research conducted on site. Social activities like hiking and bike rides are paired with some of these activities and other social events are provided by peer mentors.
Science Slam
Veterinary Summer Scholars Program Science Slam takes place the week preceding the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium and offers students a chance to showcase their research to their peers, mentors, and lab-mates via short oral presentations.
National Symposium
The National Veterinary Scholars Symposium will be held August 7-9 in Spokane, Washington, bringing together veterinary students from most of the veterinary programs in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Students present their research in the form of a poster and learn about current research topics in veterinary science. All students are requested to attend. Travel costs (registration, airfare, lodging, and meals) will be provided by mentor laboratories.
Schedules
2025 Orientation Agenda
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
9 a.m.-noon
PATH 103
| Time | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 9-9:15 a.m. | Dr. Mark Zabel | Welcome/Introductions |
| 9:15-9:30 a.m. | Wendy Stevenson, Aimee Oke | Organizational Details |
| 9:30-10 a.m. | Rebecca Moritz | Biosafety |
| 10-10:30 a.m. | Dr. Tracy Webb, Dr. Colleen Ducan | Green Lab Ambassador Challenge |
| 10:30-11 a.m. | Pamela Kemp | Thriving Amid Challenge |
| 11-11:30 a.m. | Dr. Steve Dow | How Do You Design a Research Study? |
2025 Program Schedule
| Date | Time | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 May 19-23 | Start of the program (lab-specific orientation, social event) | ||
| Tuesday, May 20 | 5:30 p.m. | Social | City Park, food truck |
| Week 2 May 26-30 | |||
| Monday May 26 - Holiday | |||
| Tuesday, May 27 | 9 a.m.-noon | PATH 103 | Summer program orientation REQUIRED |
| Thursday, May 29 | 9-11 a.m. | PATH 103 | Responsible Conduct in Research Training (Kathy Kioussopoulos/OVPR compliance leads) REQUIRED |
| Friday, May 30 | 6:30 a.m. (leave CSU) to 5 p.m., details TBD | Field trip | Wild Animal Sanctuary - Keenesburg, CO |
| Week 3 June 2-6 | |||
| Tuesday, June 3 | 1-3 p.m. | PATH 103 | Rigor and Reproducibility (Kathy Kioussopoulos/OVPR compliance leads) REQUIRED |
| Thursday, June 5 | 9-11 a.m. | DCS VTH A221 | Green Labs, followed by Webb lab tour (Drs. Tracy Webb and Colleen Duncan) REQUIRED |
| Friday, June 6 | 8:30-10 a.m. | Online/Zoom | Practical Use of AI in Research (Aimee Oke)* |
| Week 4 June 9-13 | |||
| Monday, June 9 | 9-10 a.m. | PATH 103 | CSU Writes: Scientific Writing (Dr. Kristina Quynn)* |
| Thursday, June 12 | 9-10 a.m. | PATH 103 | Writing an Abstract (Dr. Jeff Wilusz) REQUIRED |
| Friday, June 13 | Meet 8:30 a.m.; 90-minute tour starts at 9 a.m. (max 25 people) | Fieldtrip | Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Drs. Maicie Lingwall/Pauline Nol); CPW at the west end of LaPorte |
| Week 5 June 16-20 | |||
| Monday, June 16 | 9-10 a.m. | PATH 103 | Clinical Trials (Dr. Kristen Weishaar)* |
| Wednesday, June 18 | 9-10:30 a.m. | PATH 103 | Inclusive Communication Strategies (Naomi Nishi, Ph.D.) REQUIRED |
| Thursday, June 19 - Holiday | |||
| Week 6 June 23-27 | |||
| Tuesday, June 24 | 9:30-11 a.m. | PATH 103 | Making a Scientific Poster and Science Slam (Dr. Steve Dow and Mark Zabel, Ph.D.) REQUIRED |
| Thursday, June 26 | 9-11 a.m. | Bay Facility east of TMI (2351 Jensen Rd) | Rodent Handling Workshop and Use of Animals in Research/LAM Careers (Dr. Lon Kendall/Dr. Kate Bukovec)* (max 12 students) |
| Week 7 June 30-July 4 | |||
| Tuesday, July 1 | 10 a.m.-noon | PATH 103 | Making Best Use of Research Design and Statistics in Veterinary Science (Sangeeta Rao, Ph.D.)* |
| Friday, July 4 - Holiday | |||
| Week 8 July 7-11 | |||
| Thursday, July 10 | 1-2:30 p.m. | PATH 103 | Next Gen Sequencing NGS Enlightenment - Base Meditation and Bridge Amplification for Your Synthesis (Jessica Henley, Tyler Sherman, Ph.D., and Tillie Dunham)* |
| Friday, July 11 | 7 a.m. leave. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. details TBD | Field trip | Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Dr. Jen Barfield); afterwards possible bike excursion with Dr. Zabel |
| Week 9 July 14-18 | |||
| Tuesday, July 15 | Due 11:59 p.m. ET | Abstract submission due on AAVMC website | |
| Thursday, July 17 | 9-10 a.m. | PATH 103 | Abstract presentation: How to Make Your Data Important and Accessible (Dr. Gregg Griffenhagen)* |
| Friday, July 18 | Day trip times TBD | Field Trip | Rocky Mountain National Park |
| Week 10 July 21-25 | |||
| Week 11 July 28-Aug. 1 | |||
| Friday, Aug. 1 | 10 a.m.-noon; 9:30 a.m. put posters up | HEOC hall and H131 study area | VSSP poster symposium REQUIRED |
| Week 12 Aug. 4-8 | |||
| Tuesday, Aug. 5 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Wolverine Farm Public House | VSSP Science Slam REQUIRED |
| Leave for symposium Thursday morning Aug. 7 | |||
| Aug. 7-9 | Thursday-Saturday | Spokane, WA | Veterinary Scholars Symposium
|
| Aug. 9 | Last day of program | ||
| Return Sunday morning Aug. 10 | |||
*There are 9 events that are REQUIRED. You must attend your choice of 3 of any of the * seminars listed.
Field trips are optional.
Eligibility
Interested first- and second-year veterinary students from any accredited veterinary college in North America are encouraged to apply. Students must have completed at least one year of the veterinary curriculum by May of the program year and be in good academic standing.
The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is committed to developing a supportive climate among students, staff, and faculty, so that the college is a welcoming place for all.
Find a Mentor
Students are encouraged to begin seeking out mentors to outline potential research projects one to two months in advance of the application deadline. Mentors will need to provide a letter of support for students outlining the potential research project and commit to supporting any research expenses (materials, supplies, services, and equipment) associated with the project, and provide funding to attend the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium at the end of the program.
Funding
Student stipends are funded through grants awarded to CSU from multiple sources, including Boehringer-Ingelheim, the National Institutes of Health, and the United States Department of Agriculture. Some funding sources only support specific project types, so students looking to secure funding from one of these grants should align their application materials with a project focus specified by the funding source.
- Boehringer-Ingelheim: Projects can cover any topic. Stipends are $6,588 for 12-week projects.
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences: Projects should be focused on molecular, mechanistic, applied, and translational biomedical research. Stipends are approximately $6,588 for the summer.
- USDA Fellowships: Projects should be focused on livestock reproduction, health, or disease research. Stipends are approximately $6,588 for the summer.
If students are not awarded funding through these program sources, but mentors can secure funding to support their positions, they are welcome to participate in the summer program.
Students must certify that they understand this is a full-time commitment (40 hours/week) over the summer and that they can devote the required time if they accept an offer. Students must agree to not hold any other employment positions that require more than a few hours per month over the summer.