Veterinary Scholar Summer Research Program

Students will participate in the program from May 12 until August 11, 2025.

• Perform scientific literature review to understand your project, state a hypothesis, and write an experimental design to approach your hypothesis
• Complete the required compliance training.  Conduct your project in accordance to all safety rules and in compliance with all responsible research requirements
• Conduct the research project under the direction of your mentor or mentor’s team following all instructions and requirements of your mentor’s laboratory or place of research.
• Arrange times for regular meetings with your mentor to discuss progress, data, and any problems that may be encountered. We encourage you to regularly network with fellow summer trainees, graduate students, etc. to assist you in the conduct of your project.
• Communicate your work schedule to your mentor on a regular basis. The position is full-time, 40 hours/week.  If you need to take time off for personal reasons, you are responsible to work out your schedule with your mentor and make up any time.
• Complete all of the online training, including the new Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).
• Attend the Brown Bag Seminars.
• Attend the field trip.
• Participate in the end of the summer research retreat held on August 7, 2024.
• Participate in the 2025 Advances in Veterinary Medicine Research Day poster session 
• We encourage you to attend the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium hosted by University of Minnesota.  ‘Boehringer Ingelheim Scholars’ are required to attend.
• Boehringer Ingelheim, MAF and NIH T35 Scholars are expected to fulfill the additional requirements set for by those funding agencies
• Be curious, ask questions, and have fun.

The College of Veterinary Medicine is an important component of the most comprehensive health sciences center in America.  The training faculty members are uniquely qualified to conduct the program and combine disciplines of molecular biology, immunology, nutrition, epidemiology, oncology, laboratory animal medicine, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology in cross disciplinary research teams within each academic unit.  The breadth of the faculty's expertise offers exceptional opportunities for research, interdisciplinary teaching in the veterinary, medical and state-of-the-art clinical laboratory services.  The program facilities contain outstanding research and core support laboratory infrastructure and are conveniently located in and around a central campus containing the College of Public Health and the Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, and Allied Medicine and at nearby Children’s Hospital Research Institute.  Each preceptor in the training program has an established record of quality research and commitment to provide training in proper conduct in research including appropriate use of animals in research, bioethics training, and biostatistics.

Selected veterinary students, who have completed at least their first two semesters of the veterinary school curriculum (minimum cumulative GPA 3.30), will be recruited to participate in defined short term research training projects through a targeted process.  Trainees will gain knowledge and skills to fully understand and evaluate a variety of models of animal and human disease through seminars, field trips and applied training in funded laboratories.  In addition, trainees will interact with our multidisciplinary faculty to identify the range of research problems related to public health and comparative medicine.  They will acquaint themselves with the ongoing basic and clinical research studies in the laboratories and clinical sites of the participating faculty, and select a research problem.  Following the selection of a preceptor and research problem, the trainee will participate in the design and performance of experiments, as well as analysis and presentation of data regarding the research project.  The students will perform short term (3 months = 12 weeks) research projects (over the summer quarter) and training in proper conduct of research prior to completion of their clinical training for the DVM degree.  Therefore, trainees will acquire a broad background in molecular biology, genetics, pathology, laboratory animal medicine, as well as research design methodology, to provide trainees with the skills needed to fulfill national needs veterinary scientists with state-of-the-art research training.  Students will be eligible and supported by the University to attend the Merial NIH Veterinary Scholars Research Symposium, the College's Annual Research Symposium, and are encouraged to attend National Scientific Meetings to present their research.  In addition, training in scientific writing and presentation will provide students with skills to publish their research findings in suitable scientific journals.
 

All students participating in the program will complete the training required by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) for the University.  The training and registering can all be done on-line.  Those requirements are:

• Online registration with the Occupational Health Program
• Online or classroom Animal Usage Orientation Course
• Online Occupational Health and Safety training
• Online listing on animal use protocols
• Conflict of Interest
   

Selected workshops and field trips will complement the student's research program.  The goal is to provide selected workshops necessary for the student to perform research, but not detract from the research experience in the short term training period.  Field trips combined with a luncheon for student trainees will allow informal interactions among trainees, interdisciplinary approaches, and exposure to the new technology within and beyond the veterinary campus.  Examples of field trips provided by the College-funded summer research program include visits to the College of Veterinary Medicine Flow Cytometry Facility, Confocal Imaging Laboratory, OSU Super Computer Center, the Wright Center for Innovation containing both 3.5T and 7T MRI instrumentation, the OSU Wetland Research Park, The Wilds, Wright Patterson Airforce Base and COSI.

Brown Bag Seminars will be organized within the College each week.  In addition, the OSU biomedical complex has ongoing seminar series in a variety of disciplines related to Immunology, Microbiology, Imaging, Internal Medicine, Transgenic mice, Cancer Genetics, etc.  The University provides an email service that delivers daily notices of topic specific seminars to the email addresses of all faculty mentors and trainees.  Trainees interested in pathology may attend the weekly seminar in histopathology with veterinary pathology residents and graduate students.  Additional seminars include responsible conduct of research (ethics in research), effective scientific writing and presentations.

At the end of the summer quarter, trainees and participating faculty will meet for a one day retreat.  All trainees will present work completed or in progress in their laboratories, by oral five minute power point presentations.  External speakers will be invited to make research or workshop presentations in experimental methodology.  Ample time will be allowed for informal discussion.  The aim of this retreat is three-fold:  first, to expose all trainees to state-of-the-art research in areas relevant to the Training Program; second, to provide an atmosphere of cohesiveness and camaraderie among the trainees and faculty; and third, to provide trainees with exposure to the full breadth of research opportunities available under the auspices of the Training Program.

There are up to two positions available to external (non-Ohio State) veterinary students in the program thru Merial funding.  External applicants should contact Dr. Oglesbee or Ms. Grozdic with their intention to apply to the program so that any help needed can be provided.  External applicants should follow the same guidelines as internal applicants.

• What are your interests? Pick an area that you would like to explore - something that you want to learn more of and that you will enjoy. Think about what you would like to investigate - whether it be something that might have been touched on in class, or something you will be studying in the future.
• If you do not know, then surf around the departments of the college and see what grabs your attention.
• If you already know what area you would like to pursue a project in, your next step is to find the mentor to sponsor you.
• Set up a time to meet with several faculty mentors to see who you would feel comfortable working on a project. It needs to be a mutual working relationship in order to get the most out of the experience. If you cannot find a mentor from the lists provided or have contacted them with no response (email and calling), then contact our office and we can help you make contact.
• Funding - when you meet with the mentors - ask what they think about the different types of stipend funding available. Do they think it is a good idea to try for Merial or Morris funding? Sometimes your area of interest will determine the funding source.
• Look at the application and see what is required of the student and mentor. Communicate the requirements to your mentor and observe deadlines! Submit your materials in by the specified deadlines (these may vary according to the funding).

You can review a list of faculty who have reached out and are looking to work with students over the summer on a project. Mentors are not limited to those listed. 

View LisT 

View a list of past projects, mentors and participants.

Mentors are responsible for the overall coordination of the student’s research, advising the student in the conduct of scientific research, evaluating and promoting effective writing and monitoring the progress of the student.

• Support the research project in accordance to all safety rules and in compliance with all responsible research requirements. 
• Arrange times for regular meetings to discuss progress, data, and any problems that may be encountered.
• Provide reagents, methods, instrumentation, infrastructure, etc. for the project.
• Promote curiosity, address questions from your trainee while promoting independent thinking, and help create an engaging scientific environment for learning.
   

Boehringer Ingelheim - There will be 1-4 positions to be funded by the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program. To be considered for one of these slots, you must complete the application and submit it by the February 2, 2024 deadline. The application package can be found below. More information on the National Veterinary Scholars Program can be found at Boehringer Ingelheim. Non-Ohio State applicants should contact Ivana Grozdic with their intention to apply to the program. Please scroll down this page and complete the Summer Research Program Application.

• Morris Animal Foundation: The Morris Animal Foundation also sponsors a summer research program. ONE application from each school may be submitted for consideration. To be considered for the one MAF Scholar slot, you will need to complete the appropriate application and submit it to the College's Office of Research & Graduate Studies for initial review by DECEMBER 11, 2023.
• AVMA/AVMF 2nd Opportunity Summer Research Scholarship Program: open to students who have previously conducted a summer research project and are seeking a second summer of research experience.  Each school may select and forward ONE student application to AVMF. Deadline for consideration to the College's Office of Research & Graduate Studies is JANUARY 10, 2023. More information can be found at AVMA/AVMF 2nd Opportunity Research Scholarship

Please contact Ivana Grozdic if you would like to be considered for the MAF or AVMA/AVMF 2nd Opportunity funding.

NIH T35 Training Grant: (10 positions): The purpose of this training grant is to provide short term research experiences for professional veterinary medical students, allowing them to acquire specific technical and conceptual skills to perform hypothesis based research involving biochemical/molecular, tissue culture, and/or animal models of disease. Mentor List for the T35

Short Term Research Training for Veterinary Students

Program Director: Michael Oglesbee, DVM, PhD

This NIH training program provides short-term research experiences to veterinary students in order to stimulate interest in hypothesis-based research into mechanisms, treatment and prevention of disease.  During the three-month summer projects, students will use state-of-the-art molecular and cellular techniques to systematically evaluate in vitro and in vivo disease models.  Through this program, students will understand what is required to perform high quality scientific research, and develop creative approaches to solving scientific problems and fundamental issues important to public health.  The training program is coordinated through an established graduate program in the College of Veterinary Medicine and is supported by an interdisciplinary group of basic and clinical scientists with ongoing collaborative programs at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Selection of research projects by the students is based on individual meetings with the training faculty.  Guidance is provided by the Program Director to best match student interests with research programs and mentors.  Faculty mentors have expertise in endocrinology, infectious disease, genetics, oncology, molecular biology, nutrition, immunology, physiology, biochemistry, and pathology.  Research foci range from basic to translational and use in vitro and/or animal model systems, thereby providing a broad spectrum of research experiences designed to accommodate diverse student interests.  Students will engage in hypothesis-based research projects that can be completed within three months, and will be responsible for analyzing the data and presenting results of their research at a symposium held at the beginning of the following autumn semester.  Projects will be mentored by the principal investigator of the laboratory in which the studies are conducted, and the experience will be supplemented by short courses in responsible conduct of research and biostatistics.  This program provides trainees with critical thinking skills that are an essential component of any "medical scientist", whether as biomedical researchers, public health officials, medical specialists, or private practitioners.

For more information please contact:

Michael Oglesbee, DVM, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Veterinary Biosciences
The Ohio State University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Department of Veterinary Biosciences
1925 Coffey Road
Columbus, OH 43210
Ph: (614) 292-5661

There's a variety of funding available through endowments and donors, ranging from pathology to food animal medicine, to shelter medicine and global health.

Participants are expected to attend brown bag workshops and journal club. Schedule is subject to change.

At the end of the summer quarter, trainees and participating faculty will meet for a one day retreat.  All trainees will present work completed or in progress in their laboratories, by oral five minute power point presentations.  

August 11, 2025
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wexner Auditorium in VMAB

The idea is to provide an "elevator conversation" summary of the project, where you explain in relatively lay terms what you did, why you did it, what you learned and why we care (not necessarily in that order). The focus of the elevator conversation is to make it short, to-the-point, and simple - the type of approach you would take with a friend or family member that may have little scientific background. It is understood that many projects will be a work in progress. That is all right. The last slide is your opportunity to comment on the impact that the program has had on you. Interpret this broadly.

Format/Topic for Each Slide:

• Slide #1
  • Title of Project
  • Student Name
  • Mentor Name
  • Sponsor's Name
• Slide #2
  • Background Information and hypothesis (this sets up the "why you did it")
• Slide #3
  • Approach (what you did)
• Slide #4
  • Results (what you learned and why we care)
• Slide #5
  • Impact that the program has had on you
  • Future plans with your research project

ALL POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS WILL NEED TO BE SENT TO IVANA BY 11:59 PM ON SUNDAY, 8/10.
Lunch will be provided for the students and mentors. Dress attire should be business casual.