Research Scholars Program
Background
The 21st century brings 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 Scholars 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 organismal 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 must 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 $2500 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 VM508P in fall semester of the second
year. The applications of these students will be reviewed with those of the
current first year students. In the spring semester, research scholars are
required to take a second seminar course, VM509P which covers topics such as
biomedical ethics, experimental design, etc.
For Application Materials or Questions, Contact:
Mr. Greg Fehrs
Manager
Business and Finance Office
College of Veterinary Medicine
Washington State University
PO Box 647010
Bustad 128
(509) 335-3383
gfehrs@vetmed.wsu.edu
