For a student to be considered for the IVSP scholar stipend, co-funded by Boehringer Ingelheim:

• Applicants must be active veterinary students at SGU or a non-host veterinary institution.
• Applicants must be in the first or second year of their veterinary program (SGUSVM: Term 1-4 during Spring Term 2018).
• Applicants must NOT have a master of science degree (MSc) or a PhD, nor be in an MSc or PhD program. Scholars may have a master in public health or be in an MPH program.
• Applicants must have a proposed research project and mentor before applying. Please see the tab labeled Proposed Projects and Mentors for further information.
• Applicants must able to fulfill all IVSP requirements, including being present at SGUSVM for all scheduled IVSP events, actively participating in mentored research during the designated summer research time, and constructing and presenting a poster for the SGU Research Day and  the Boehringer Ingelheim/NIH Symposium.
• Applicants must have strong undergraduate and professional academic records.
• Applicants with little to no research experience will be given preference.
• Applicants must complete and e-mail the IVSP student application to Ms. Cathy Wybern (cwybern@sgu.edu) no later than Friday, February 9, 2018. Please see the tab labeled 2018 Student Application for further information.

For a student to be included in the 2018 IVSP summer program:

• Applicants must be active veterinary, medical or undergraduate students at SGU or a non-host veterinary institution.
• Applicants must exhibit a sincere interest in research.
• Applicants must contact Ms. Cathy Wybern (cwybern@sgu.edu) to be added to the online course site.

For a student to get recognition on their transcript for completing the IVSP:

• Students must participate in all IVSP events.
• Students must actively participate in mentored research during a designated research time period.
• Students must construct and present a research poster for the upcoming Spring 2019 SGU Research Day.

Remember to check over the IVSP requirements before applying.

You can access the 2018 IVSP Student Application HERE

• Save the document (2018 IVSP Student Application.docx) to your computer. Make sure that the file name of your application includes at least your last name (for our benefit when receiving e-mailed applications).

• This is a Word document set up with text box form fields (grey rectangular boxes), checkbox form fields (framed grey squares), and drop-down form fields (“Choose an item.”). Information can be added to the form fields, but the document itself cannot be altered.
• Content for text box form fields can be copied from a separate document and pasted into the application.
• Follow the instructions and character/page limits.
• Put your name on every page of the application.
• Part E: Student Transcript must be scanned and e-mailed as a separate attachment or submitted as a hard copy. The transcript does not have to be an official copy.

• Two components of the application: (1) Part D: Student Curriculum Vitae, and (2) Part F: Mentor Letter of Support, may be e-mailed as separate documents. Please adhere to the character/page limits.
• The Scholar/Mentor contract (Part G) is due after acceptance into the IVSP and before the commencement of the IVSP (May 14, 2018).

• The deadline for this application is February 9, 2018.

E-mail the completed application to Ms. Cathy Wybern at cwybern@sgu.edu no later than February 9, 2018.

Click HERE to view the proposed 2018 IVSP Calendar

Description of Events

IVSP Laboratory Workshops:
Background information and corresponding questions for laboratory-based workshops will be provided for participants in a laboratory handout.

• Workshop #1: Necropsy
  The purpose of this workshop is to understand basics of necropsy and histopathology techniques and their applications in veterinary research.
• Workshop #2: Marine Center Clinical Examination, Anesthesia and Blood Sampling of Fish
  The purpose of this section is to understand the basic principles of clinical examination, anesthesia and blood sampling of fish, and how they apply to veterinary research.
• Workshop #3: Clinical Pathology in Research
  The purpose of this workshop is to understand the basic principles of hematology, clinical chemistry, and cytology techniques and how they apply to veterinary research.
• Workshop #4: PCR
  The purpose of this laboratory exercise is to understand the basics of how DNA is extracted from cells and how to perform PCR.

IVSP Field Trips:
Field trips will include a questions workbook, in which scholars will be posed questions involving research opportunities for each of the field trip locations.

• Marine Center: With the inclusion of the marine research veterinarian at SGUSVM, we will be focusing more specifically on marine aspects of veterinary research for field trips and workshop. Scholars will be given a tour of the marine center, learn about ongoing future marine research at SGU and participate in marine-based research techniques
• Snorkel/Scuba trip: We will be taking student on a scuba/snorkeling trip to enrich this experience from lab to fieldwork.
• Food safety: These field trips will expose IVSP scholars to the various aspects of the food industry in Grenada including the St. Georg’s fish market, the Grenville red meat slaughter facility, the cocoa planation and the Goat Dairy at Belmont Estate, Broiler and egg-production units and swine production at Belvidere Estate, Scholars will identify the major food-safety issues associated with each food animal species.
• SIM LAB: Scholars will be given a tour of the simulation laboratory at SGU and have a change to learn about research and test their skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the human and animal simulation.
• GSPCA/Ministry of Agriculture: This trip to the Grenada Society of the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (GSPCA) will expose scholars to the need for further research and education for companion animals of Grenada. A tour will also be made of the research facilities at Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture.

IVSP Seminars:
All seminars are selected and designed to educate and to promote discussion among IVSP scholars on research topics and considerations.

• Public Health in Research session
  This session will discuss Public Health and its role in veterinary research.
• Partners in Research
  This session will have presentations by members of the Grenadian Ministry of Agriculture. Its purpose was to expose scholars to the widespread relevance of veterinary research to the Government of Grenada and the current research projects by the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Safety and Compliance
  Veterinary research relies on proper adherence and awareness of safety in the laboratory and clinic, as well as compliance to rules and regulations. This session will involve presentations on safety and IACUC regulations on animal research.
• Ethics in Research
  Ethics involving research are always a consideration that must be discussed. This session will provide scholars with ethics-based articles and hold a discussion on the issues addressed in these articles.
• Poster Creation session
  This session and one-on-one assistance will be provided to scholars as they prepare their posters for the IVSP Poster Day and the Merial/NIH Symposium.

Group Laboratory Meetings:
These meetings will be provided for IVSP scholars to discuss their research and questions/concerns with mentors, meeting leaders, and each other.

IVSP Poster Day:
IVSP Poster Day will be dedicated to displaying the veterinary scholar’s research achievements at St. George’s University and to preparing for future presentation at the Merial/NIH symposium. Posters will be displayed, and IVSP scholars will give a brief presentation of their posters to attending faculty, staff and students.

Boehringer Ingelheim/NIH Symposia

The Boehringer Ingelheim (formerly Merial)/NIH Symposium is held every year and gives veterinary students the opportunity to showcase their summer research. There are also a variety of sessions involving different research topics and numerous chances to network with fellow colleagues and seasoned researchers from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Europe.

Click HERE for information on the Boehringer Ingelheim/NIH Symposium.

2018 Boehringer Ingelheim/NIH Symposium

This symposium will take place August 2018 at Texas A&M in College Station, TX, USA

2017 Boehringer Ingelheim/NIH Symposium: NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA

There were many strong attributes of the symposium but most outstanding amongst for Dr. Paharsingh and the scholars was the focus on Professional Student Development by Drs. T. Lyle and T. Mashima. Their presentation was memorable not only for content but also for delivery. The worked well worked with each other, had meshing personalities and they created a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for students to voice their concerns and ask questions (one of our students included).  Dr. Tiffany Lyle’s insight into how she networked with various schools and used her human resource and organizational skills, shared a much needed and more practical perspective on how to approach the professional veterinary world as a student. Both presenters gave insight on how to balance personal life and having family while still achieving the most from your career. The symposium had an emphasis on encouraging future vets to go into research as a career, educating them on the ways in which they could achieve this goal and the opportunities available to them both as students (for example the comparative biomedical research track) and when they graduate.

Dr. Paharsingh and the students enjoyed the wildlife and conservation lectures, in particular Dr. A. Alonso Aguirre’s presentation: “Do You Want to be a Conservation Medic?: Dealing with the Gaps and Challenges of One Health for a Greener Planet”. His presentation was educational and the students felt that it was much needed exposure to the life of conservation medicine. Many students from multiple schools were heard considering careers in the field after the talk! All presenters were very helpful and inviting and the students were able to approach them easily after each track to ask questions and network. The scholars loved meeting students from other veterinary schools especially their fellow Caribbean island students from Ross University and they formed an inseparable bond from day one.

2016 Merial/NIH Symposium: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

All participants overall felt that the 2016 Merial/NIH symposium at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH was an excellent learning and networking experience. It was considered a highlight by the scholars for the summer research program and a welcome return to her alma mater by Dr. Gibson.

The foci for the symposium were One Health and infectious disease. The IVSP scholars loved meeting students from other veterinary schools and the variety of talks, in particular the presentation by Dr. Jan Ramer. While disappointing that the symposium was not held on campus, it was still rich with information and contacts for the scholars and directors.

2014 Merial/NIH Symposium: Cornell University, Ithica, NY, USA

All participants felt that the 2014 Merial/NIH symposium at Cornell University, Ithica, NY was an excellent experience and participated to their fullest extent. It also was an excellent way to conclude the IVSP, with our non-host student able to catch up with her Colorado classmates and the director able to network with colleagues. The director also interacted with the two other SGUSVM students who were MVSP scholars at other veterinary institutions.

Overall, the scholars and director appreciated the experience of seeing and learning about the wide variety of researchers and research projects in veterinary medicine. Scholars commented that they appreciated receiving Dr. Natterson-Horowitz’s book: Zoobiquity in their packet. Dr. Gibson appreciated that the symposium was held at on-campus locations, allowing participants to see the campus. The choice of speakers, in her opinion was excellent. One of the speakers, Dr. Natterson-Horowitz, MD provided thought-provoking views of how veterinary and human medicine can interrelate and interact. There was a wide variety in the posters’ research topics and presentation of results, and it was enjoyable to listen to students explain their summer research experiences.

2013 Merial/NIH Symposium: Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA

All participants felt that the 2013 Merial/NIH symposium at Michigan State University (MSU) was a powerful learning experience. It also was an excellent way to conclude the IVSP, with our non-host student able to catch up with his Auburn classmates and the co-director able to network with colleagues and potential future collaborators. The co-director was also able to speak with other SGUSVM students and one former SGUSVM student who were MVSP scholars at other veterinary institutions. The SGUSVM co-director voiced multiple positive comments on the choice of symposium talks and entertainment. One of her favorite presentations was: “Nanoemulsion-based vaccines” by Dr. Paul Makidon. The co-director was also pleased to announce the inclusion of St. George’s University at the Merial program director’s meeting.

Most comments from IVSP scholars and other SGUSVM scholars attending the program at other veterinary institutions were positive. They enjoyed the hands-on experience of research and appreciated the comments, questions, and discussions generated about their posters and research. They appreciated all the work, difficulties, and rewards involved in a research project. It was also very entertaining to meet socially at the zoo and hear the surgeons’ band crooning to “Icky” (“Mickey” with reworked lyrics).

Other Student Research Opportunities

2017-2018 List of Internal and External Veterinary Student Research Opportunities:

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AT SGU SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

These research opportunities are available for SGUSVM veterinary students to perform research at SGUSVM. It is highly recommended to email the contact(s) for these programs should you have any questions regarding eligibility or other.

Veterinary Research Student Initiative (VRSI)
This program provides SGUSVM veterinary students with hands-on research experience, presentation and manuscript preparation experience, as well as an honorary “Distinction in Research” on their diplomas and transcripts. Contact Dr. Sonia Cheetham (scheetha@sgu.edu) if interested in this opportunity.

Morris Animal Foundation: 2018 Veterinary Student Scholars Program
This program is available for foreign veterinary institutions, including St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine. Deadline: Wednesday, March 7, 2018
ONLY THE SCHOOL CAN SEND THE APPLICATION! DO NOT SEND APPLICATIONS DIRECTLY TO MORRIS! SEE PAWSPRINT FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Contact Dr. Diana Stone (rdstone@sgu.edu) or Dr. Brian Butler (bbutler@sgu.edu) if interested in this opportunity.

US$5/Hour Research Program at SGUSVM
This program is available for veterinary students during the school terms and during winter and summer breaks to work with veterinary researchers on a variety of research projects at SGUSVM. Contact Dr. Ravindra Sharma (rsharma@sgu.edu) if interested in this opportunity.

OTHER BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM VETERINARY SCHOLARS PROGRAMS

There are multiple veterinary schools in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean offering Boehringer Ingelheim-funded programs, as well as other research programs to non-host veterinary students.

Check out the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program website (http://www.merialscholars.com/students/participating-schools) and listed schools’ webpages for more information. According to Boehringer Ingelheim, all eligible 1st and 2nd-year veterinary students from a school with an active Boehringer Ingelheim-funded program are able to apply for any school’s Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program. Contact the schools of interest for more information on eligibility requirements, number of non-host student slots available and deadlines.

Application deadlines are normally in early February, but requirements and deadlines vary by institution. Contact the schools of interest for more information.

• Auburn University
• Colorado State University
• Cornell University
• Iowa State University
• Kansas State University
• Louisiana State University
• Michigan State University
• Mississippi State University
• North Carolina State University
• The Ohio State University

• Oklahoma State University
• Oregon State University

• Purdue University
• Ross University
• Texas A&M University
• Tufts University
• University of Calgary
• University of California-Davis
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia
• University of Guelph
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• University of Minnesota
• University of Missouri
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Prince Edward Island-Atlantic Veterinary College
• University of Saskatchewan
• University of Tennessee
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine
• Washington State University
• Western University of Health Sciences

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF SGU (NON-MERIAL)

The following research opportunities have been available in the past for SGUSVM veterinary students to perform research at locations outside of SGU. It is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to email the contact(s) for these programs should you have any questions regarding the program components, eligibility or other.

American Society for Laboratory Animal Practitioners: ASLAP Funding
ASLAP offers travel awards and funding opportunities. The deadlines for summer, 2018 have passed; but plan ahead for 2019. The most recent deadline was October 6, 2017; the deadline in 2018 will likely be around the same day.

AVMA VCC List of Veterinary Student Research Opportunities

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), as part of their Veterinary Career Center (VCC) maintains and updates lists of available veterinary student externships, including research opportunities.

GlaxoSmithKline Summer Internship Programs
This program offers 10-12 week internships PA for undergraduate, graduate and PhD students. Internships will take place May-August. Recruitment for positions is expected to begin in December, 2017.

National Cancer Institute Center for Cancer Research: Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research for Veterinary Medical Students
This program offers internships at multiple biomedical research laboratories in the United States, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The application is expected to be available mid-November, 2017 through March 1, and be aware that this is a highly-competitive internship.

Student Veterinarian Scholarship for the Charles River Short Course
This scholarship is for attendance of an annual short course in June, 2015 on laboratory animal use offered at Charles River Laboratories in Maryland. Please continue to check the link for updates and the 2018 application. Deadline for application is expected to be April 1, 2018.

Summer Research Fellowships in Comparative Medicine at Wake Forest
Wake Forest University School of Medicine is offering four research fellowships (8-12 weeks in duration) in comparative medicine to veterinary students.. Deadline for application is expected around March 1, 2018; however earlier applications will be considered earlier and given preference, if a highly-competitive applicant. Check with Program Director, Dr. Kavanagh (kkavanag@wakehealth.edu) for more information on this opportunity.

If you have any questions about the IVSP, please contact the following people:

IVSP administrative coordinator
Ms. Catherine Wybern: cwybern@sgu.edu 

IVSP director
Dr. Wayne Sylvester: wsylvester@sgu.edu

IVSP assistant directors
Dr. India Paharsingh: ipaharsi@sgu.edu
Dr. Lucian Peters: lpeters2@sgu.edu
IVSP activities coordinator

Ms. Adrea Tidwell: atidwell@sgu.edu

Associate Dean of Graduate Studies
Dr. Ravindra Sharma: rsharma@sgu.edu