Merial Veterinary Scholar Program

*new funding for 2012*

This summer program is funded in part by the Merial Veterinary Scholars Program Summer Symposium

The mission of the Merial Veterinary Scholars Program (MVSP) is to expose veterinary students in their first or second year of veterinary school to biomedial research and career opportunities in research. The University of Calgary, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) is committed to engaging veterinary students in research and exposing them to its value, and is pleased to partner with Merial to fund one MVSP scholar in the summer of 2012. Participation in the MVSP will allow veterinary students the opportunity to experience a research environment without the pressures of graduate school, to be exposed to various career paths in veterinary research, to develop skills useful through their veterinery career, and to develop a network of contacts within UCVM, the University of Calgary, and other Universities and Research Institutes. To facilitate exposure to contacts, all MVSP scholars will participate in the UCVM Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program. MVSP scholars will also have the added experience of reviewing their progress with the MVSP Program Director, and attending the annual Merial Symposium (all expenses paid)!

How can I become a MVSP scholar?

The first step towards being chosen as the MVSP scholar is to find a UCVM faculty supervisor with a summer research project that is of interest to you. For a listing of UCVM faculty members who are currently accepting summer undergraduate research, please click here. You may also directly contact faculty members, grouped here based on their research interests, to see if they have any available projects that are not listed. Should you

How do I apply for MVSP scholar funding?

Please note MVSP funding is only open to first or second year veterinary students. All student applicants must work together with their supervisors to develop a research project with a testable hypothesis and specific aims. Students and faculty mentors are encouraged to develop projects that could be included in a manuscript. While it is acknowledged summer research students may work in collaboration with graduate students and postdocs, all summer research students must have a defined project with a clear purpose that they lead the research efforts in. Summer research students are also expected to take the lead in compiling the data and interpreting the results.

All first and second year veterinary students interested in applying for MVSP funding must complete a UCVM Summer Undergraduate Studentship application. Students without research experience are encouraged to apply. Students must append to this application a (maximum) one page cover letter outlining their request to be considered for MVSP funding. This letter should highlight their past academic achievements and (if any) research experience, as well as their future goals. All award applications will be reviewed by the UCVM Scholarship and Fellowship Awards Committee and will be considered for BOTH a MVSP and UCVM summer studentship award (i.e. only one application for both competitions is required). Applications should be emailed as a single PDF to vmgrad@ucalgary.ca by February 1. Late applications will NOT be accepted. 

What type of stipend will I receive?

Successful MVSP scholars will receive a stipend of $9,600 over 16 weeks (1 May to 31 August). Funding for the studentship comes from the Merial Veterinary Scholars Program Summer Symposium and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Stipends will be prorated if the MVSP scholar works less than 16 weeks. Students are also encouraged to apply for funding from external sources. Should a MVSP scholar be successful in receiving funding from an external source, their stipend will be topped up to a combined value of awards of $10,100.

What types of extracurricular activities do MVSP scholars participate in?

All funded MVSP scholars are required to participate in the UCVM Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) Program. Involvement in this program and its workshops will allows MVSP scholars to develop a larger community of contacts at the University of Calgary and other Universities and Research Institutes across Canada. In addition to the SURE program acitivites, MVSP scholars will be required to meet regularly with the MVSP Program Director to discuss their research progress. Formal visits to Research Institutes such as the Animal Diseases Research Institute and the Agriculture and Agrifood Canada research stations in Alberta will also be organized. MVSP scholars are encouraged to attend and participate in any relevant seminars, Grand Rounds, and journal clubs on the advice of their faculty supervisor. MVSP scholars will be required to complete an annual report (due by the end of September) that summarizes their research accomplishments and reflects on their experience. MVSP scholars will review their annual report with the Program Director. MVSP scholars and the Program Director will also attend the annual Merial Symposium (all expenses paid). A detailed summary of MVSP scholar extracurricular activities can be found here.

Can I do summer research at another University?

Interested in applying to a Merial Veterinary Scholars Program at another University? Click here for further details.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Program Director: Alastair E. Cribb, DVM, PhD, FCAHS. Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

Program Coordinator: Tara Christie, PhD. Graduate and Postgraduate Training Manager, SURE/MVSP Program Coordinator. chrsttl@ucalgary.ca