Research Scholars Program
Background
The approach of the 21st century brings with its increased challenges and
responsibilities in medicine, environmental quality, animal agriculture, and
species preservation. Such challenges can only be met through a commitment to
understanding and an investment in research. Veterinarians, with their broad
training in animal biology and comparative medicine, have made and continue to
make major contributions to research in these areas. However, the number of
graduating veterinarians who pursue careers in research is small, even in the
face of increasing demand and attractive salary.
Goals of the Research Scholar Program
In view of the potential contribution that research veterinarians can make to
the biomedical, agricultural and environmental sciences, we have instituted a
Research Scholar Program within the veterinary curriculum. The goals of the
Research Scholar Program are to:
- Attract to the veterinary student population, and hence to the
veterinary profession, individuals of exceptional aptitude who are oriented
toward a career of basic or applied research,
- Maintain a high level of motivation for these individuals to pursue
advanced training and become productive research scientists,
- Provide training in the philosophy and methodology of science, as well
as hands-on research experience from the level of problem identification
through publication of results, and
- Encourage the participant’s scholarly development through concurrent
D.V.M./Ph.D. programs and/or postdoctoral training.
Research Training Environment at WSU
The WSU College of Veterinary Medicine provides an excellent environment in
which to pursue research training. The college ranks within the top six
veterinary colleges in the amount of extramural research support, currently
attracting over eight million dollars in extramural research funding annually.
The position of the college is even more impressive when one considers that it
is one of the smaller veterinary colleges in terms of faculty numbers. At the
WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, there are exceptionally strong
research programs in the areas of neurobiology, blood and cardiopulmonary
studies, muscle function, pharmacology/toxicology, infectious disease and
immunology, radiation biology and therapy, and population medicine. All of these
areas use a variety of state-of-the-art methods, from the molecular to the
organismic and computational. The laboratories in these areas are recognized
internationally, both within and outside the veterinary profession, for their
technical and conceptual leadership. Virtually all of our active researchers are
willing to advise Research Scholars and to sponsor their training. In addition,
researchers in departments outside the college have also served as mentors for
Research Scholars, extending the possibilities of exposure to activities outside
the College of Veterinary Medicine. The College of Veterinary Medicine has a
good working relationship with other colleges on campus (e.g. Sciences [
School
of Biological Sciences,
School of Molecular Biosciences,
Genetics and Cell Biology],
Animal
Science, and
Pharmacy) and our
professional students are able to credit core and elective veterinary courses
taken as part of their veterinary education toward the requirements for the
Ph.D. degree. Research Scholars also benefit from the flexibility of the fourth
year in the veterinary curriculum, which permits scheduling of blocks of several
months for research activities.
Research Scholars Curriculum
In keeping with the goals of the program, Research Scholars participate fully in
the veterinary curriculum. Additional curricular requirements, unique to the
Research Scholar Program, focus on encouraging intellectual involvement in
research problem solving and on providing a hands-on research experience for
each student under the supervision of a faculty mentor. These additional
curricular requirements are:
A weekly seminar course in Research
Orientation to survey ongoing research and research services (VM508-fall
semester), the goal of which is to acquaint students with the nature of ongoing
research programs in the College of Veterinary Medicine and associated
institutions and departments. This seminar also provides an introduction to the
library and data base services on campus. The last five seminar sessions are
focused on the hypothetical-deductive approach to research problem solving and
the mechanics of articulating a testable hypothesis as a research proposal. This
part of the course is designed to assist students in making the transition from
interested observers of research to active participants. It culminates with the
writing of a summer research proposal that is submitted for review and critique
during the spring semester.
At this time, students also formally
submit their applications to the Research Scholars Program for review by the
Research Scholars Steering Committee. A weekly seminar course in Scientific
Literacy and Philosophy (VM509-spring semester), organized around selected
monographs that emphasize concepts, issues, and points of historical interest
essential to the intellectual enterprise of research. This seminar al so allows
Research Scholar students to interact with speakers from outside the university
who are invited to provide keynote seminars in selected topic areas.
Directed Readings on Research Topics, the goal of which is to allow the students
to gain familiarity with a specific area of research by reading and discussion
with an experienced investigator. This experience helps students to identify an
area of interest and an advisor. Each student participates in at least one, but
not more than three, directed readings during the fall semester. Students choose
topics of interest from a list submitted by participating faculty members.
Because the purpose of the Directed Readings is to stimulate interest rather
than to provide in-depth familiarity or skills acquisition, this activity is not
graded. However, advisors will request verbal evaluation of the readings from
each student.
Laboratory Research and Publication
Students are free to choose an advisor as early as the time of admission.
However, each student should have selected an advisor by the end of the first
semester in the Program. The advisor and student will develop a research program
for the student, which will be well circumscribed, and within the student's
capabilities. Arrangements will be made for the student to begin working on a
project at a time that is acceptable to both student and mentor. It is expected,
however, that Research Scholars will begin hands-on laboratory work at their
earliest opportunity and no later than the first summer following entry into the
veterinary curriculum. All Research Scholars are expected to be involved in
research during the summer months (Summer Research Fellowship). This research
will be based on the proposal submitted during the previous spring. A second
summer research proposal is expected to be submitted during the spring of the
student’s second year. During the third year of the professional curriculum,
Research Scholars are expected to attend weekly Departmental research seminars,
and are encouraged to continue their research activities during the academic
year to the extent that doing so does not interfere with professional coursework
(a summer research proposal is not required). By graduation, each student should
have submitted at least one article for publication in a refereed journal.
Financial Support for Research Scholars
Veterinary students participating in the Research Scholar Program are eligible
for all forms of financial aid available to other veterinary students. In
addition, the Research Scholars Steering Committee may award stipends to
students when funds are available. Currently, participants receive $2000 during
each of the first three years. A funded summer research fellowship will provide
an additional stipend above and beyond that provided by the Research Scholars
program. No stipends are awarded during the fourth year. Stipend recipients must
sign a loan payback agreement committing them to completion of the Research
Scholar Program through the fourth year of professional study. If a student
voluntarily terminates participation in the Research Scholars Program during the
second or third year of the program, any monies received beyond the first year
will be considered a loan to be repaid to the College, rather than a grant.
Individual research advisors and departments may supplement Research Scholar
stipends at any time. Such supplements would not be covered by the payback
agreement. Furthermore, students may elect to stay in the Program but to decline
financial support subsequent to the first year.
Admission to the Research Scholar Program
Admission to the Research Scholar Program is competitive. Students interested in
the Program should attend the seminar course VM508P in the fall semester of the
first year. Students apply for admission to the Program by submitting
application materials midway through their first year in the professional
curriculum. Research Scholar candidate applications are reviewed by the Research
Scholars Steering Committee. The Committee will also review each student's
original application to veterinary school as part of the total application
package for the Research Scholars Program. Students who do not apply or who were
not admitted to the Research Scholar Program in their first year may make
application midway through their second year of veterinary school. Those
students should attend the seminar course 508P in fall semester of the second
year. The applications of these students will be reviewed with those of the
current first year students.
For application materials or questions,
contact:
Ms Barbara Hodson
Office of Veterinary Student Services
College of Veterinary Medicine
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-7012
(509)335-1532
Last Edited: Oct 18, 2007 1:55 PM
