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USDA Scholars Application

Boehringer Ingelheim and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) joined forces in 2021 to offer veterinary students the opportunity to research diseases that could affect livestock and public health. Follow the application instructions below to apply.

USDA logo jpg

USDA Scholars Application

Boehringer Ingelheim and the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) joined forces in 2021 to offer veterinary students the opportunity to research diseases that could affect livestock and public health. Follow the application instructions below to apply.

Woman presenting

About the Program

This program is made possible by funding provided by the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), Boehringer Ingelheim and USDA ARS. They entered into a 5-year agreement (2021-2026) to provide training opportunities to 12 veterinary students per year to conduct summer research in one of nine USDA ARS animal health research facilities. The goals of this program are to: 

  • Provide students with opportunities to conduct research in livestock infectious diseases
  • Raise awareness of federal research careers for veterinarians
  • Increase partnerships with veterinary schools
Woman presenting

About the Program

This program is made possible by funding provided by the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF), Boehringer Ingelheim and USDA ARS. They entered into a 5-year agreement (2021-2026) to provide training opportunities to 12 veterinary students per year to conduct summer research in one of nine USDA ARS animal health research facilities. The goals of this program are to: 

  • Provide students with opportunities to conduct research in livestock infectious diseases
  • Raise awareness of federal research careers for veterinarians
  • Increase partnerships with veterinary schools

USDA Scholars Important Dates

10.1.24

Available projects sent out to schools via Program Directors and made available on website.

11.15.24

Veterinary School Program Director submit applications to Dr. Motroni (roxann.motroni@usda.gov) and Stephanie Gaddam (stephanie.gaddam@usda.gov).

1.15.25

Applicants and schools will be notified of application status.

4.15.25

Approximate date of funding distribution to schools through BI.  

5.15.25

Approximate start date of research experience May 15- June 1, 2025. 

Programs will last 10 to 12 weeks.

                                                   

USDA Student

Application Instructions for 2025

Requirements:

Students should submit their applications to the program directors at their schools and not to USDA directly.

  • Only US citizens are eligible to apply
  • Applicants must be in good standing with their veterinary school 
  • University should select no more than two applicants for the USDA/BIVSP opportunity
  • Students are expected to be available at the ARS location for 10-12 weeks to conduct research and attend the Veterinary Scholars Symposium in August

 

Funding:

  • Each scholar will receive a $7,500 stipend for the summer administered through their university
    • Funding for the summer will be administered to the scholar through each scholar’s school
  • Travel assistance and conference registration fees for the scholars will be provided to their universities
USDA Student

Application Instructions for 2025

Requirements:

Students should submit their applications to the program directors at their schools and not to USDA directly.

  • Only US citizens are eligible to apply
  • Applicants must be in good standing with their veterinary school 
  • University should select no more than two applicants for the USDA/BIVSP opportunity
  • Students are expected to be available at the ARS location for 10-12 weeks to conduct research and attend the Veterinary Scholars Symposium in August

 

Funding:

  • Each scholar will receive a $7,500 stipend for the summer administered through their university
    • Funding for the summer will be administered to the scholar through each scholar’s school
  • Travel assistance and conference registration fees for the scholars will be provided to their universities

Application Package

Application package should include:

  1. Coversheet with the following information
    • Name
    • Contact information including email
    • Vet school graduation year
    • Preferred start and end dates
    • Whether you have participated in the ARS-Boehringer VSP program previously
    • Graduate work in addition to DVM curriculum (if any)
    • Top three choices of ARS research projects

 

*We will do our best to match scholars with their top choice in research projects however, given that some projects and locations are more popular than others this may not always be possible.

 

  1. Cover letter should include:
    • Information about previous research experience
    • Research interests and how this experience fits in with career goals
    • What interests you in participating in this summer research experience with ARS? If a scholar has participated in the program previously, please address how further participation will assist in their career goals.
  2. Resume or CV

 

USDA ARS Project Proposals for the BI Veterinary Student Scholars Participants for Summer 2025

 

  1. Animal Disease Research Unit (ADRU)

Location: Pullman, WA

Project Title: Tick salivary vesicle secretion changes in response to host responses

Primary Mentor: Kennan Oyen, PhD and Karen Poh, PhD, MPH

 

2. Animal Disease Research Unit (ADRU)

Location: Pullman, WA

Project Title: Investigating the Cytokine Profile of Cattle Infected with Theileria orientalis

Primary Mentor: Reginaldo Bastos, DVM, PhD   

 

3. Animal Parasitic Disease Laboratory (APDL)

Location: Beltsville, MD

Project Title: Characterization of immunogenicity and biochemical properties of parasite vaccine candidates 

Primary Mentor: Wenbin Tuo, DVM, PhD 

 

  1. Center for Grain and Animal Health Research (ABADRU) 

Location: Manhattan, KS

Project Title: Development of embryonated chicken eggs as a transmission model for arthropod-borne viruses

Primary Mentor: Stacey Scroggs, PhD 

 

  1. Center for Grain and Animal Health Research (ABADRU) 

Location: Manhattan, KS

Project Title: Differential gene expression of embryonated chicken eggs after exposure to arthropod-borne viruses

Primary Mentor: Phillip Shults, PhD

 

6. National Animal Disease Center (NADC) 

Location: Ames, IA

Project Title: Immunologic characterization of responses of wildlife to Brucellosis vaccination

Primary Mentor: Steven Olsen, DVM, PhD

 

7. National Animal Disease Center (NADC) Virus and Prion Research Unit                                     

Location: Ames, IA

Project Title: Characterization of cellular tropism and host-pathogen responses of Influenza A viruses (IAV) including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in swine

Primary Mentor: Bailey Arruda, DVM, PhD

 

8. National Animal Disease Center (NADC) Infectious Bacterial Disease Unit                                     

Location: Ames, IA

Project Title: Bacterial Pathogens in Digital Dermatitis

Primary Mentor: Jennifer Wilson-Welder, PhD 

 

9. National Animal Disease Center (NADC) Virus and Prion Research Unit

Location: Ames, IA

Project Title: CRISPR/dCas9-activator for enhancing the expression of prion protein in cultured cells and novel gene-targeted mouse models

Primary Mentor: Jifeng Bian, DMD, PhD   

 

10. United States National Poultry Research Center (USNPRC) Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research Unit

Location: Athens, GA

Project Title: Creation of a model to assess infectious bursal disease virus induced immunosuppression

Primary Mentor: Julia Blakey, DVM, PhD

 

11. United States National Poultry Research Center (USNPRC) Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research Unit

Location: Athens, GA

Project Title: Investigating the mechanisms of a tumor driver gene in Marek’s disease

Primary Mentor: Cari Hearn, DVM, PhD

 

12. Mississippi State/Poultry Research Unit (MS/PRU)

Location: Mississippi State, MS

Project Title: Unraveling the complexities of avian colibacillosis

Primary Mentor: Kelsy Robinson, PhD

 

13. National Bio and Agrodefense Facility (NBAF)

Location: Manhattan, KS – see additional details below

Project Title: Distribution of Crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Primary (USDA) Mentor: Lisa Hensley, PhD     

NB: Knowledge of French is useful for work in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The student will need to be flexible and will need to comply with visa and vaccination requirements for in-country work. This project will be conducted with academic partners at UCLA who collaborate with USDA and the student will have an academic co-mentor. The academic mentor will coordinate travel to the field and assist with in-country needs. The USDA mentor will provide guidance on the project and methods to be used. The USDA mentor will incorporate the scholar into unit scientific and team meetings. The duration of time abroad may vary. 

 

14. National Bio and Agrodefense Facility (NBAF)

Location: Manhattan, KS – see additional details below

Project Title: Distribution of Crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever in Uganda and Tanzania

Primary (USDA) Mentor: Lisa Hensley, PhD     

NB: The student will need to be flexible and will need to comply with visa and vaccination requirements for in-country work. This project will be conducted with academic partners at the UC Davis One Health Institute who collaborate with USDA and the student will have an academic co-mentor. The academic mentor will coordinate travel to the field and assist with in-country needs. The USDA mentor will provide guidance on the project and methods to be used. The USDA mentor will incorporate the scholar into unit scientific and team meetings. The duration of time abroad may vary and the student should expect to spend time both at UCD and abroad. 

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