Summer Scholar Program Application

2025 Program

Applications for the program are Open

Apply for the 2025 Program Here

2025 Program Key Dates

  • Applications accepted January 27-February 21 2025
  • Program begins: May 19
  • Summer Scholar Research Day: September 11
  • Summer Program ends: August 13

Veterinary Scholar Symposium. 
The Veterinary Scholar Symposium (VSS) is scheduled to be in Spokane, WA this year. Dates, including travel, are 8/6-8/10

This experience is open to students who are funded from specific  sponsors. If you have a strong interest in attending the symposium, you will have the opportunity to indicate this on the application.

Annual CVM Summer Scholar Research Day

CVM Research Day is scheduled for 9/11/2025

Learn more about the program

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

  • The program is open to first- and second-year veterinary students enrolled in any of the 30 U.S. colleges and schools of veterinary medicine
  • Students from overseas institutions area also considered for participation
  • Students enrolled in graduate programs are NOT eligible to participate (this does not include concurrent students completing rotations)
  • A GPA of 3.0 or higher is required
  • Preference is given to applicants who have not previously participated in the program

Stipend
CVM Summer Scholar Research Program is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health, Boehringer Ingelheim,  Iowa Livestock Health Advisory Council (ILHAC), and additional funds at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine.  Each scholar will receive a monthly stipend for the entire 13-week program (1 week of vacation is allowed, but must be approved by scholar's faculty mentor).

Application Procedures

Applications are now open. The Online application will request the following information:

  • A brief resume which includes your GPA
  • Names and phone numbers of two references
  • One-page personal statement (related to the research program -- what you bring to the program or hope to gain as a participant)

Abstracts for Available 2025 Projects

Project Abstracts

Selection Criteria
Matches are made based on a combination of the student’s GPA, funding availability and criteria, and faculty and student interest.  All attempts are made to match the student’s with their 1st choice project.

  • GPA and academic performance
  • Work and research interests/experience
  • Stated long-term goals
  • Communication skills
  • Potential for success

Deadlines
Applications are open from 1/27-2/21

Match with Research Mentors
The match between a Research Scholar and a Faculty Mentor is central to the Summer Scholar Research experience. Once students are selected as Research Scholars, several steps occur to create the appropriate match. 

Faculty mentors will have submitted a research abstract describing an important problem to be investigated and specific aims associated with the proposed research project. Then:

  1. Current year's Mentor Abstracts will be uploaded into the CVM Summer Scholar Research Program online application form by mid-January each year.
  2. The scholars are required to rank their top six preferences for participating mentors/projects. Please complete the project rankings section in the Summer Scholar online application.
  3. If mutually agreed upon and ample funding is available, matches are made by the program directors.
  4. The student applicants will be notified about the matching process via email.

Application

Applications will be accepted 1/27-2/21

Apply for the 2025 Program Here

Available Project Abstracts

To expedite the application process, be sure to have all information gathered before beginning. You will need: Your project choices, Your resume/CV, two references, and your brief personal statement.If you have questions regarding the application process, please contact Karen Barker: kbarker@iastate.edu 

Nondiscrimination Policy
Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran.  Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity, 3680 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.
 

Faculty Program Director
Dr. Jodi McGill, 515-294-2635, jlmcgill@iastate.edu

Program Coordinator

Karen Barker, 515-294-4348, kbarker@iastate.edu

The Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Award Program for Graduate Veterinarians 

This research award program is open to veterinarians who have completed graduate research or residency programs and provides a $2500 honorarium and the opportunity to present her/his research at the 2025 BIVSP Symposium. For additional details on this research award please go to the Boehringer Ingelheim Scholars Web site here.

Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program

 

Scholar applicants, please use the PDF files in the links above to list at least your top six projects on your application. Your application is not considered complete without these rankings. At the top of each abstract is a designation (ex: P1 - McGill) which indicates the abstract number and principal investigator for the project. This designation is intended to assist you with finding the matching opportunity on the survey. Please contact kbarker@iastate.edu if you have any questions.

Note: Attendance on “Required Dates” listed above is mandatory for participation in the program. This program is a full-time stipend. Any vacation time beyond one week, or outside work which does not allow the participant to work full-time for this program, will not be allowed. If you are notified by one of the faculty facilitating this program that you have been matched with a participating faculty mentor, you agree that once you accept this spot in the program, you will complete the 13-week project and fully participate in the Summer Scholar Research Program.