School of Veterinary
Medicine
Summer Scholars
Program
Introduction
Each year,
the School of Veterinary Medicine at UW-Madison gives an opportunity for
current first, second, and third-year veterinary students to collaborate with
mentors on research projects. 2009 will be the 17th year that the
SVM has offered this opportunity to students. Applications are accepted from
students from other schools as well as local students.
The primary goals
of our program have been and will continue to be: To provide an opportunity for
veterinary medical students in their first 3 years of their veterinary medical
education to participate in a research training program that will enhance their
appreciation, interest and knowledge of opportunities for future careers in
biomedical research. In addition to the research experience, our program is
designed to have weekly seminars for 10 to 12 weeks in the summer portion of
our program for seminars and discussion groups on Ethics in Science, Career
Opportunities, Research Programs of the Faculty Mentors, a “How To”
seminar/discussion on Writing Grant Proposals, Writing Articles for Publication
in Scientific Journals, and How to Give Oral and Poster Presentations. Another
goal is to provide some of our students research training opportunities at
various locations off campus.
Our program is unique in that it will continue to be a “year long
program,” rather than a “summer program.” As evident by the accomplishments of
our many Scholars over the past 15 years (our program began prior to
Merck-Merial funding), our year long program provides an exceptional
opportunity for the Scholars to not only perform research in the summer, but
for them to continue their research training in the laboratory of their mentor
throughout the year. In mid to late April (approximately one year after they
start the program), all Scholars participate in Research Day. We generally
have a guest speaker and all the Scholars present either an oral (25 to 30
min.) overview of their research or they have a poster presentation with a 5 to
10 minute oral summary and Q&A. The Scholars are required to write a
scientific paper in a journal style of their choice that is generally due by
the first week of May. Because of the additional research time, many of our
Scholars present the results of their projects at national meetings and many
have successfully published their research findings in numerous journals.
Multiple Scholars have gone on to pursue research even after the program ends.
Why Be a Scholar?
1. Participate in an Exciting and
Unique Experience
2. Generate New Knowledge
3. Attend a
National Symposium with Veterinary Medical Students from other Schools/Colleges
to share information about your research project and your school
4. Include in
your CV that you were a Merck-Merial Scholar and participated in this
nationwide program. This will be valuable when applying for
internships/residencies and graduate programs as well as applying for jobs.
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“I learned how to write scientific papers properly, as
well as make professional poster presentations.”
2005 Summer Scholar
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Schedule and
Deadlines
February 4, 2009 -
Applications to the program are due to the PBS department office.
March 27, 2009 –
Research Day – 2008 Summer Scholars present their research findings. 2009
Scholars are invited to attend.
Wednesdays at noon,
June – August (exact dates to be determined) Summer Seminar Series
(To be determined) -
Merck-Merial Symposium
March 2010 – Research
Day
April 2010 – Papers Due
Research Day
The School of Veterinary Medicine
holds an annual Research Day each April to highlight research accomplishments
of the Student Scholars Program. The veterinary medical students from a
school/college other than UW-Madison that participated in our program will
return, if possible, or they will prepare a poster or send a video for
presentation for Research Day in April. During Research Day, the current
Merck-Merial Scholars present research results and meet the newly selected
2008-2009 Scholars. This program is very useful in that the Scholars completing
the program have a chance to discuss the results of their research with
faculty, staff and students. They can “showcase” their efforts and
accomplishments. It is also a great opportunity for the newly selected
Scholars to discuss what will be expected of them in the program, the National
Symposium and all the fun they will have if they attend, as well as discuss the
research they plan to perform for their project.
Symposium
Each
year, all Scholars are invited to share their research at the Merck-Merial
Veterinary Fellowship Symposium. The symposium is typically the first weekend
in August. More details will be given about the 2009 symposium at a later
date! The anticipated location for the 2009 symposium is North Carolina State
University.
Applications
The
application deadline for 2009 is February 4.
All
applications should be submitted to room 2015 in the SVM, and electronically to Dr. Schultz at schutlzr@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu.
Every
application should include:
1. Cover page to include the title of the project, dates
of the proposed project period and the names of the student and faculty member.
2. A short research proposal (no more than 4 pages) to
contain the following sections: background and significance, hypothesis,
objectives for the summer, a brief description of approaches and methodologies,
and a bibliography. The objectives should clearly indicate how this proposal
will provide a quality research experience for the student. We are not
interested in funding proposals, no matter how meritorious they may be
scientifically, if the student is not provided with a quality learning
experience which could entice them into choosing a research-oriented career in
Veterinary Medicine.
3. The budget page indicating the student's fellowship
(provided by this program), approximate costs of supplies, user fees and
experimental animals. If animals are to be used in the experiments, the RARC
animal protocol number or evidence that application for clearance has been made
must be noted on this sheet. The faculty advisor must also obtain appropriate
approval for the use of radioactive materials and/or biological hazards. All
costs except the student fellowship must be covered by the faculty mentor!
4. A sheet containing the following statement, signed by
the faculty mentor must also be included: "I have read this proposal and
agree to supervise the project outlined by this student. I understand that
this fellowship only provides salary support for the project. I understand
that I am responsible for providing the remaining funding and other costs as
noted in the budget and can assure the committee that these funds are on hand.
I also understand that I must participate in the "summer seminar" for
Merck-Merial Scholars."
5. The faculty mentor must include a listing of current
research support. Please include the following information: title of project,
agency, role on project (PI or co-PI), dates of project, and direct costs of
project for the entire time period.
6. In a letter to accompany the proposal, the student
should discuss her/his motivations for examining research
as a career option. This letter should contain a
description of previous research experience, if any.
7. The student is expected to write a paper in journal
style (your choice of journal) and submit it prior to April 1, 2009. The
student will present the results of their research at Research Day in April
2009. Presentation can be an oral or a poster presentation.
Former Mentors
The
following is a list of mentors that have been part of the program in the last
few years. Students are encouraged to approach faculty that share their
interests, whether or not they are on this list. Research interests for
faculty are accessible online at http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu,
via “People and Departments.” Students from outside the school and students
who need additional assistance should approach Dr. Schultz before the
application is due.
Mary
Behan
Dale
Edmond Bjorling
Hannah
Carey
Charles
J. Czuprynski
Dick
Dubielzig
Suresh
Marulasiddappa
Harry
W. Momont
Peter
Muir
Mark
D. Markel
Christopher
W. Olsen
Jorge
Osorio
Joanne
Paul-Murphy
Susan
Schaefer
Kurt
K. Sladky
Howard
Steinberg
Lauren
Trepanier
Some Former Projects
Since its inception in 1992 the
veterinary medical student research training program has provided an
opportunity for more than 155 students to participate in various research
projects with UW-Madison faculty.
Past projects have included:
Collagen degradation
in ruptured canine cruciate ligament
Pathogenesis of
condylar fractures of the third Metacarpal/third metatarsal bone in
thoroughbred racehorses
Age-related change
and exercise induced plasticity in the hypoglossal nucleus
Targeted
gene-directed radiosensitization in canine tumor cells
West Nile Virus
Infection in Dogs of Southern Wisconsin
Factors Affecting
Feline Respiratory Disease Complex in an Open Admission Shelter
The effects of sex
hormones on ventilatory control in aging rats
Characterization of
liver auto-antibodies in dogs with chronic hepatitis
An
Immunohistochemical and Clinical Examination of 37 Cases of Feline Nasal
Lymphoma
Contact Info
If
you have any questions or concerns about the program, please contact Dr. Ronald
D. Schultz, professor and chair of the Department of Pathobiological Sciences,
room 2015 in the SVM building. His email is schultzr@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu, and
his phone is 608-263-9888.
