This page is designed to help veterinary students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars identify research, education, training, and professional development opportunities. Opportunities may be offered locally, nationally, or internationally and may be available at different times throughout the year.
DVM Student Research Opportunities
Nestle Purina Veterinary Student Summer Research Fellowship
The objective of this program is to provide veterinary students with an opportunity to participate in research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in canine and feline nutrition and health. To support this goal, a fund has been established that will provide small grants up to $10,000 to faculty members to support a well-designed research project and a veterinary student’s summer salary. The research should be conducted or coordinated by the student and be of sufficient quality to support publication in a veterinary or other scientific journal. In addition to their primary research project, funded students may have opportunities to participate in other scholarly or research activities under the guidance of the faculty member, providing a broader research experience.
Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to faculty members who are willing to serve as supervisor and mentor to the veterinary student. Selection is based on the review of proposals received on or before November 1st of each calendar year. Preference is given to those studies addressing nutritional issues relevant to canines and felines. Invasive or terminal research projects are not eligible for funding.
To apply for a grant, interested students should secure the assistance of a faculty member willing to serve as their supervisor.
Purina Veterinary Student Fellowship Details
Morris Animal Foundation Veterinary Student Scholar
Limited Submission - Do not submit your application directly to MAF
This is a highly competitive program, providing veterinary students the opportunity to become involved in mentored research that advances the health and/or welfare of dogs, cats, equids or wildlife. The VSS program awards stipends of up to $5,500 to veterinary students who are selected by their institution to participate in clinical or basic animal health research.
The program is open to currently enrolled veterinary students in good standing at any accredited veterinary medicine program (this does not need to be AVMA accreditation). Students enrolled in a combined DVM/PhD degree program are not eligible for this RFP.
Interested applicants need to alert our office of their intent to apply and send a copy of their completed application materials to Christine Munsterman at [email protected]. Do not submit your application online at this time.
AVMA/AVMF Second Opportunity Summer Research Scholarship Program
Limited Submission - Do not submit your application directly to AVMA/AVMF
The AVMA/AVMF Second Opportunity Summer Research Scholarship is intended to provide support for students who have previously conducted a summer research project and are seeking to gain a second summer of research experience. Ideally, student applicants would be continuing their prior research project but that is not an absolute requirement. Students are expected to submit an abstract of their results for presentation at the BI/AAVMC Veterinary Scholars Symposium in August 2027.
This is a limited submission opportunity, with nominations limited to one per school. There will be five scholarships awarded in 2027. Students will receive a $6,700 scholarship from the Second Opportunity Program.
To be eligible for this opportunity, students must have previously conducted a summer research project. Applicants must be currently enrolled and in good academic standing in the DVM program at UC Davis. Students must commit to attending all training opportunities, including the presentation of a scientific poster at the Boehringer Ingelheim/AAVMC Veterinary Scholar Symposium in August 2027.
Students and mentors should reach out to the WSVM Office of Research & Graduate Education for the current year’s application. Students who are interested in submitting an application should plan to submit their completed application to the WSVM Office of Research by October 15, 2026. Preference will be given to students continuing their previous research project. Applications for the AVMF/AVMA Second Opportunity scholarship will be reviewed and scored by a selection committee, but only one application will be forwarded electronically by the WSVM Office of Research to the AVMF/AVMA for national competition.
Michigan State University DVM Summer Research Programs
During this 12-week program, students work closely with faculty mentors to conduct a biomedical research project focusing on comparative and veterinary medicine. Professional development activities are designed to prepare students for a research career and gain leadership skills. At the end of the program, students present their findings at the Veterinary Scholars Symposium. The program provides a stipend and covers the cost of travel to the symposium.
Eligibility:
- Any first- or second-year veterinary student who is enrolled in any veterinary school and is a student in good standing.
- No previous research experience is needed.
Program Dates: May 18–August 8, 2026
MSU DVM Summer Research Programs
NIH Opportunities
Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP)
The National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, the world’s largest research hospital, continues the proud tradition of training the next generation of clinician-scientists. The NIH Medical Research Scholarship Program (MRSP) is a year-long residential professional development program for research-oriented medical, dental, and veterinary students at the NIH intramural campus in Bethesda, MD, as well as its satellite campuses.
The MRSP offers a robust investigational experience through a basic, clinical, or translational research project with an experienced mentor that matches their professional interests. Focused on helping develop a career in biomedical research, the MRSP year provides students with a dedicated advisor and a vast curriculum of academic activities featuring world-renowned clinician-scientists, networking opportunities, and professional development workshops. The NIH MRSP has a proven history of launching the next generation of clinician-scientists into highly successful, impactful careers. Medical, Dental, and Veterinary students currently enrolled in their second, third, or fourth years with a strong interest in biomedical research are eligible to apply.
NIH Medical Research Scholars Program details.
Summer Internship Program (SIP)
This program is for college, graduate and professional students interested in exploring careers in research and healthcare. These are full-time research positions within one of the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) in the NIH Intramural Research Program. Research groups are located on all NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda, MD.
Summer interns work in research groups directed by a Principal Investigator (PI). We offer research opportunities in the biomedical, behavioral, and social sciences with opportunities to explore basic, translational, and clinical research. Students interested in biology, engineering, epidemiology, psychology, mathematics, chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, nursing, physics, computer science, bioinformatics, and other health-related fields are invited to apply.
NIH Summer Internship Program details
T32 and T35 Training Grants for Veterinary Students - Participating Institutions
ORIP’s (Office of Research Infrastructure Programs) Institutional Research Training Grants support veterinarians pursuing careers in biomedical research by funding advanced training in comparative medicine and pathology at veterinary schools and research institutions. Programs include postdoctoral training (T32) to prepare veterinarians for independent K-series grants, summer research experiences (T35) for veterinary students, and institutional grants to foster research careers.
View List of NIH Training Programs
Loan Repayment Program (LRP)
The NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals (DVMs and PhDs included) into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers. The LRPs counteract that financial pressure by repaying up to $50,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.
NIH Loan Repayment Program Eligibility
Cornell University
Veterinary Investigation & Leadership Program (VILP)
The Veterinary Investigation & Leadership Program (VILP) is a 10-week summer program designed to provide incoming Cornell DVM students and current veterinary students with a rigorous and rewarding exposure to biomedical research at the highest level of inquiry, as well as to motivate students to pursue studies on research problems relevant to veterinary medicine. While Cornell DVM students are encouraged to apply, a limited number of spaces are also reserved for external veterinary students. More information
Havemeyer Foundation Equine Fellowship Program
The Dorothy Russell Havemeyer Foundation Fellowship Program at Cornell University provides support for short-term educational experiences in academic equine medicine for veterinary students. Fellowships are offered in the Equine Genetics Center in the laboratory of Dr. Doug Antczak at the Baker Institute. The purpose of the Fellowships is to enable students with an interest in research careers to participate actively in cutting-edge investigations in equine medicine. Students in Colleges of Veterinary Medicine in North America and abroad are eligible to apply. The Fellowship term is 10 weeks, with a flexible start date for any consecutive 10-week period between May and September. Stipend support is $5,000. Fellowship participants may be eligible for academic credit through their home institution. Housing is not provided, but readily available near campus.
Havemeyer Foundation Equine Fellowship details
American Society of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) Training Programs
ACLAM's database on Laboratory Animal Medicine Training Programs, designed to provide educational resources and professional development for those involved in the care, management, and research use of laboratory animals. Ideal for veterinarians, researchers, and animal care specialists seeking to enhance their expertise in ethical animal handling and medical procedures.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Epidemiology Elective Program for Senior Medical and Veterinary Students
The Epidemiology Elective Program (EEP) is a short-term, service-learning rotation in applied epidemiology. Medical and veterinary students learn through training, project assignments, and mentorship from public health experts. Students can participate in a 6- or 8-week rotation. Project assignments are with CDC, other federal agencies, and state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments. Every effort is made to place students with a host site that provides experience in leadership and project in a topic area of the student's interest.
CDC Epidemiology Elective Program
Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) - DVM AND PhD Students Eligible
Established in 1951, EIS has trained over 4,000 disease detectives who have investigated and responded to a wide range of public health challenges and emergencies. EIS officers are CDC's disease detectives who learn from and work alongside subject matter experts while providing service to domestic and international partners. EIS maintains its core focus on training disease detectives to practice consequential epidemiology, which is the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data for evidence-based public health action.
CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service
Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Research Opportunities
Office of Graduate Studies
GradLink
GradLink is a monthly e-newsletter publication for the UC Davis graduate education community. It includes news, announcements, updates, and other information that pertains to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at UC Davis.
External Fellowships
External fellowships are those offered by private foundations, government agencies, and corporations. A variety of support is given, from one-time awards to multi-year support. Grants are available at every stage of the graduate and postdoctoral career and applying for grants should be a component of every individual development plan. The External Fellowships Analysts help facilitate the external fellowships process, from pre-award application review to award closeout.
Visit External Fellowships Page
GradPathways Workshops & Courses
Graduate Studies offers unparalleled opportunities and support for professional and career development. Their nationally-recognized GradPathways program has served as a model for other graduate student and postdoctoral professional development programs across the nation. This comprehensive program is designed to help graduate students and postdoctoral scholars succeed both at UC Davis and in their chosen career paths.
President's and Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
The UC President's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PPFP) and the UC Davis Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (CPFP) offer postdoctoral research fellowships and faculty mentoring to outstanding scholars in all fields whose research, teaching, and service will contribute to the diversity and equal opportunity at the University of California. These contributions may include public service addressing the needs of our increasingly diverse society, efforts to advance equitable access to higher education, or research focusing on underserved populations or understanding inequalities related to race, gender, disability or LGBTQ+. Each fall, the program seeks applicants with the potential to bring to their academic careers the critical perspective that comes from their non-traditional educational background or understanding of the experiences of members of groups historically underrepresented in higher education.
Visit Postdoctoral Fellowships Page
WSVM Postdoctoral Scholar Resources
The Office of Research and Graduate Education has put together a Box folder containing important resources for postdoctoral scholars at WSVM including key campus contacts, recurring funding opportunities, grant writing training and more.
Visit Postdoctoral Resources Box Folder
NSF Supplemental Grant for Graduate Student Non-Academic Internships
NSF has identified improving graduate student preparedness for the STEM workforce as one of its priorities. As part of this effort, a supplemental funding opportunity is available in fiscal years FY 2021 and beyond to support non-academic research internships for graduate students in any sector of the U.S. economy. NSF currently invests in a number of graduate student preparedness activities and has historically encouraged principal investigators (PIs) to include such activities in research proposals to NSF. The Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) linked below describes new commitments and funding opportunities at NSF to ensure graduate students are prepared for the 21st-century STEM workforce.