Research Opportunities for Veterinary Students
Research Opportunities for Veterinary Students
Purpose:
The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine is committed to providing veterinary students with high-quality research experiences to support their growth as clinician-scientists. This curated list includes intramural and extramural funding, internships, and travel awards designed to advance students’ research skills and professional development.
While the Shreiber School personnel periodically update this list to ensure accuracy, students should always review individual sponsor websites for current requirements and deadlines.
Note: Opportunities are subject to change. Please check this document periodically for updates.
How this List is Organized
- Section I: Internal (Intramural) Funding Sources:
- Opportunities for research funding are available through SSVM and Rowan University.
- Section II: External (Extramural) Funding Sources:
- Opportunities through government agencies, private organizations, foundations, industry, and other veterinary colleges/universities.
- Section III: Travel Awards:
- Funding to offset student travel to conferences. Priority is often given to students who:
- Are active members of the sponsoring organization, or
- Present a poster or oral presentation at the conference.
- Funding to offset student travel to conferences. Priority is often given to students who:
Questions?
If you have questions about this list or know of an opportunity not included here, please contact:
- Dr. Omar Tliba, Associate Dean of Research — tliba@rowan.edu
- Dr. Nora Jean Nealon — nealon@rowan.edu
- Dr. Pratap Kafle — kafle@rowan.edu
Special thanks to Dr. Elena Contreras for her contributions in developing and updating this list.
I. INTERNAL (INTRAMURAL) FUNDING SOURCES
SSVM Funding:
- Veterinary Summer Scholars Program
- Application instructions for Fall 2026 will be announced in December 2025
- Contacts: Dr. Nora Jean Nealon (nealon@rowan.edu), Dr. Pratap Kafle (kafle@rowan.edu), Dr. Omar Tliba (tliba@rowan.edu)
Rowan University Funding:
- Rowan Innovation Fellows Program
- https://www.njeda.gov/new-jersey-innovation-fellows-program/
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- Contact: Neal Lemon (njinnovationfellows@njeda.gov)
Students should also check Rowan emails regularly for additional internal funding announcements.
II. EXTERNAL (EXTRAMURAL) FUNDING SOURCES:
Industries and Government
Banfield summer research externship:
- https://jobs.banfield.com/search-jobs
- Note: This opportunity is distinct from Banfield’s Student Clinical Externship and Student Job Program, which provide small animal clinical training for fourth-year students and rising 2nd/3rd-year students, respectively.
- The research externship is offered through Banfield’s Central Team Support – Veterinary Affairs
- For questions, please contact Nora Jean Nealon at nealon@rowan.edu (she is a past extern and can provide additional insight).
Boehringer Ingelheim:
- https://veterinaryscholars.boehringer-ingelheim.com/studentapplications
- Rowan is not currently a participating institution. Students interested in this program will need to reach out directly to one of the participating schools to inquire about potential participation.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- Epidemiology Elective Program (not research-focused but highly relevant to public health):
- CDC & Kennedy Krieger Institute - Dr. James A Ferguson Ferguson RISE Program (Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Initiatives for Student Enhancement):
Chewy Veterinary Leaders Program:
Merck (Opportunities vary annually):
- General student opportunities:
- Merck Animal Health Scholarship:
- https://www.avmf.org/grants-and-scholarships/scholarships/merck-animal-health-scholarship/
- Nealon was a 2020 scholarship recipient; students with questions are welcome to contact her at nealon@rowan.edu.
National Institutes of Health (NIH):
- NIH Summer Internship Program:
- NIH Summer Internship in Biomedical Research (SIBPR) for vet students:
- NIH- Other:
- https://orip.nih.gov/division-comparative-medicine/training-career-development/institutional-research-training#upenn
- Additional NIH summer opportunities for veterinary students may be offered depending on the year. Please check the above website periodically for the latest updates.
- Boehringer Ingelheim/Penn NIH Summer Research Program:
- NIH-NCI John Milner Nutrition and Cancer Prevention Research Practicum:
- https://events.cancer.gov/nsrg/practicum/registration
- This practicum is not offered annually; please check the website for updated information about program dates.
- You may also inquire directly with NIH–NCI via their “Contact Us” email: NCIinfo@nih.gov
- For additional questions, please contact Nora Jean Nealon at nealon@rowan.edu (she is a past participant).
USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Boehringer Ingelheim (BI):
- https://veterinaryscholars.boehringer-ingelheim.com/USDAScholars
- Rowan will apply and submit the institutional application on behalf of interested student applicants.
Organizations and foundations:
AAV (Association of Avian Veterinarians):
- https://www.aav.org/page/student_scholarship
- Offers both student externship and research scholarships.
AAVMC/Zoetis Foundation Research Scholarship:
American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) - Whitney Joy Engler Memorial Veterinary Student Research Award:
American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP) - Summer Fellowships:
ASPCA Applied Animal Welfare Research Internship:
- https://www.aspca.org/about-us/careers/aspca-internship-applied-animal-welfare-research
- Focus: applied animal welfare research.
AVMA / American Veterinary Medical Foundation – 2nd Opportunity Summer Research Stipend:
- https://www.avmf.org/grants-and-scholarships/research-support/2nd-opportunity/
- For students who have already participated at least once in a veterinary student research program.
Bayer Foundation – International Fellowships:
- https://www.bayer-foundation.com/science/fellowships-stipends#Fellowships
- International research fellowships in Germany for DVM students.
Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) – One Health Alliance (COHA)
FelineVMA & EveryCat Health Foundation – Clinical Research Scholarship
Field Parasitology International Summer School (FIPARS):
- https://www.parasitology.ro/participate/
- Summer research opportunity in Romania for BS, MS, or doctoral students (including veterinary).
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) – Vet Fellows Program
- https://foundationfar.org/what-we-do/research-priorities/scientific-workforce/vet-fellows/
- Veterinary student research fellowship; availability varies by year.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) – Medical Research Fellows Program
Maddie’s Fund – Grant Opportunities
- https://www.maddiesfund.org/grant-opportunities.htm
- Focus areas include shelter medicine and strengthening access to veterinary care for underserved communities.
- Some opportunities may involve student participation, depending on the year.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) – Summer Internship
- https://www.mbari.org/about/careers/internships/
- Full-time, 10-week research internship.
Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) – Veterinary Student Scholar Program
- https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/veterinary-student-scholar-program
- The school selects one student proposal per cycle to submit to MAF.
- Nealon has experience assisting students with this application and is available for guidance at nealon@rowan.edu.
One Health Commission (OHC) – Dr. Gregory D. Bossart Memorial One Health Scholarship
- https://www.onehealthcommission.org/en/programs/one_health_scholarships/
- Note: The OHC occasionally announces scholarships and other student funding opportunities through its listserv. Students can sign up via the link above to stay informed.
Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) Scholars Program:
- https://www.peointernational.org/educational-support/scholar-awards/
- Open to women only, targeting junior/3rd-year doctoral students (including DVM). Preference is given to students involved in research.
- Scholarship funds are intended to offset tuition and other expenses, allowing recipients more time to focus on research or clinical studies.
- Nealon was a 2020 scholar with distinction and is a current PEO member. She can provide guidance on the application and nomination process (nomination must come from a US PEO chapter) at nealon@rowan.edu.
The Foundation for the Horse (through AAEP/American Association of Equine Practitioners) – Student Research Grants
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) – Student Scholarships
Veterinary Schools/Colleges
Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine AQUAVET:
- https://www.vet.cornell.edu/education/other-educational-opportunities/aquavetr
- Offers clinical and research summer internships for 2nd–3rd year DVM students, as well as 4th-year DVM externships that can serve as clinical clerkships.
- Nealon has two colleagues who have participated in various AQUAVET programs and is happy to connect interested students with them for additional insight into their experiences. She can be reached at nealon@rowan.edu.
Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Investigation and Leadership Program (VILP):
- https://www.vet.cornell.edu/education/other-educational-opportunities/veterinary-investigation-leadership-program-vilp
- A limited number of spots are available for visiting veterinary students. Availability varies each year, so be sure to check annually for openings.
Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine offers Summer Scholar Research Pro-gram:
Purdue University Veterinary Summer Research Scholars Fellowships:
- https://vet.purdue.edu/veterinary-scholars/
- Note: This opportunity is open to students from veterinary schools outside of Purdue. All research must be conducted on-site at Purdue University, so students should plan accordingly for travel, housing, and other living expenses.
Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine – Biomedical Research for Uni-versity Students in Health Sciences (BRUSH) Summer Research Program
- https://cvm.msu.edu/research/student-research/undergraduate-student-summer-research-program
- Note: Open to students from other universities
Other Universities
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Summer Veterinary Scholars Program (with Tufts):
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Summer programs for veterinary students:
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Veterinary Student Summer Research Fellowship in Comparative Medicine:
Stanford Medicine veterinary externships (3rd and 4th year vet students):
Duke University Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP):
Tulane University National Primate Research Center Summer Veterinary Program:
III. Travel Awards
American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP):
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM):
American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM):
American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP):
- https://acvp.org/training/pathology-club-travel/
- Note: Student needs to be an active member of this organization to apply.
American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM):
American Society of Animal Science (ASAS):
American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (ASLAP):
American Society of Microbiology (ASM):
Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD):
Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA):
International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society:
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA):
Poultry Sciences Association:
Student American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA):
- https://www.avma.org/membership/SAVMA/awards-scholarships#EdProfDev
- Members are eligible to apply for retroactive travel reimbursement after attending or presenting research at various conferences (see the SAVMA website for the list of eligible conferences).
- Note: Applicants must be active, dues-paying members of their college’s SAVMA chapter.
Theriogenology Student Travel Grant:
USAHA/AAVLD (United States Animal Health Association/American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians) Joint Annual Meeting Travel Awards:
Veterinary Dental Forum (Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry):
