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.
2024 Program Dates: May 13-August 12
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
Field trips
Destinations include Rocky Mountain National Park, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and Soapstone Prairie to participate in tours and learn about research conducted on site. Social activities like hiking and bike rides are paired with these activities.
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 8-10 in St. Paul, Minnesota, bringing together veterinary students from most of the veterinary programs in the United States and Canada. 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
2024 Orientation Agenda
Monday, May 20, 2024
9–11:30 a.m.
PATH 103
| Time | Speaker | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 9-9:15 a.m. | Dr. Mark Zabel | Welcome/Introductions |
| 9:15-9:30 a.m. | Aimee Oke, Wendy Stevenson, Kristy Moreno | Organizational Details/Paperwork |
| 9:30-10 a.m. | Rebecca Moritz | Biosafety |
| 10-10:30 a.m. | Dr. Colleen Duncan, Dr. Tracy Webb | Green Lab Ambassador Challenge |
| 10:30-11 a.m. | Pamela Kemp | Thriving Amid Challenge |
| 11-11:30 a.m. | Dr. Steve Dow | Clinical vs. Basic Science in Veterinary Research |
2024 Program Schedule
| Date | Time | Location | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week May 13-17 | Start of the program (lab-specific orientation, social events) | ||
| Friday, May 17 | TBD | TBD | Get Together |
| Week May 20-24 | |||
| Monday, May 20 | 9-11 a.m. | PATH 103 | Summer Program Orientation REQUIRED |
| TBD | TBD | TBD | Responsible Conduct in Research Training (TBD) REQUIRED |
| TBD | TBD | TBD | Rigor and Reproducibility (TBD) REQUIRED |
| Week May 27-31 | |||
| Tuesday, May 28 | 1-2 p.m. | PATH 103 | CSU Writes: Scientific Writing (Kristina Quynn, Ph.D.)* |
| Thursday, May 30 | 9-11 a.m. | DCS VTH A221 | Green Labs (Drs. Colleen Duncan and Tracy Webb) REQUIRED |
| Friday, May 31 | 6:30 a.m. (leave CSU) to 8 a.m.– 2 p.m. | Field trip | Wild Animal Sanctuary – Keenesburg |
| Week June 3-7 | |||
| Tuesday, June 4 | 9-10 a.m. | PATH 103 | Writing an Abstract (Jeff Wilusz, Ph.D.) REQUIRED |
| Friday, June 7 | Meet at CSU TBD. 8:30 start. 90-minute tour. Max 25 people.) | Field trip | Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Drs. Maicie Lingwall and Pauline Nol) CPW at west end of LaPorte |
| Week June 10-14 | |||
| Tuesday, June 11 | 9-10 a.m. | PATH 103 | Clinical Trials (Dr. Kristen Weishaar)* |
| Friday, June 14 | 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | Field trip | Soapstone Prairie Natural Area (Jen Barfield, Ph.D.) |
| Week June 17-21 | |||
| Tuesday, June 18 | 9-11 a.m. | PATH 103 | Making a Scientific Poster and Science Slam (Dr. Steve Dow and Mark Zabel, Ph.D.) REQUIRED |
| Thursday, June 20 | 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)* |
| Week June 24-28 | |||
| Tuesday, June 25 | 1-3 p.m. | PATH 103 | Making best use of Research Design and Statistics in Veterinary Science (Sangeeta Rao, Ph.D.)* |
| Week July 1-5 | |||
| Thursday, July 4 is a holiday | |||
| Week July 8-12 | |||
| Monday, July 8 (tentative) | Abstract Submission Due | ||
| Tuesday, July 9 | 9-10:30 a.m. | PATH 103 | Microaggressions in Medicine: Understanding, Preventing, and Responding (Naomi Nishi, Ph.D.) REQUIRED |
| Thursday, July 11 | 1-2:30 p.m. | PATH 103 | Next Gen Sequencing NGS enlightenment - base meditation and bridge amplification for your synthesis (Dr. Christie Mayo and team)* |
| Friday, July 12 (tentative) | All Day | Field trip | CSU Spur - Denver |
| Week July 15-19 | |||
| Monday, July 15 | All Day | Field trip | RMNP |
| Tuesday, July 16 | 2-3 p.m. | PATH 103 | Abstract Presentation - How to Make Your Data Important and Accessible (Dr. Gregg Griffenhagen)* |
| Week July 22-26 | |||
| Thursday, July 25 | 9-10 a.m. | PATH 103 | Fundamentals of Grant Writing (Jeff Wilusz, Ph.D.)* |
| Week July 29-Aug. 2 | |||
| Friday, Aug. 2 | 10 a.m.-noon | HEOC Hall and H131 study area | VSSP Poster Symposium REQUIRED |
| Week Aug. 5-9 | |||
| Monday, Aug. 5 | TBD | TBD | VSSP Science Slam REQUIRED |
| Aug 8-10 | Minneapolis | National Veterinary Summer Scholars Symposium | |
| Monday, Aug. 12 | Last Day | ||
*You must attend your choice of 3 of any of the other seminars listed. There are 9 events that are REQUIRED.
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 increasing diversity and inclusion among students, staff, and faculty, so that the college is a welcoming and supportive place for all. Individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in science are highly encouraged to apply for the Veterinary Summer Scholars Program.
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.
- National Institutes of Health: Projects should be focused on molecular, mechanistic, applied, and translational biomedical research. Stipends are $6,588 for 3-month projects.
- USDA Fellowships: Projects should be focused on livestock reproduction, health, or disease research. Stipends are $6,588 for 12-week projects.
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.