Application Process

Students who are interested in participating shall select a mentor by reaching out to faculty that conduct research in the area of interest to the student (see list of mentors and area of interest). Students wanting to participate in the program but are having difficulty in finding a mentor can contact Drs. Britta Leise at bleise@lsu.edu for assistance in matching them with a faculty advisor. Once the faculty mentor agrees to work with the student on their project the student must complete the application and a short research proposal to be submitted by February 28, 2025, by 5 p.m.  

Steps

First- and second-year veterinary students interested in applying for the Summer Research Veterinary Scholar Program must complete the following to be considered for funding: 

  • Identify a mentor
  • Select an area of interest to you (we will help you with this if you need)
  • Students can work on projects that a mentor has designed or is currently ongoing
  • Students may propose their own project idea if the faculty advisor is willing and able to support the research project
  • Any research in the biomedical or veterinary field is acceptable
  • Proposals should be focused and "doable" over the 10-week summer period
  • Complete the application, write the letter of interest, and submit to Dr. Britta Leise at bleise@lsu.edu no later than the due date
  • Work with mentor to develop a 2-5 page proposal/experimental plan describing rationale, methods to be employed, and expected outcomes. Submit the proposed research experiment to be conducted by the due date.

Proposal

The proposal should be 2-5 pages in length and include the following:

  • Title
  • Student investigator, year, email
  • Faculty mentor, email, and department affiliation
  • Co-investigator(s), email, and department affiliation
  • Specific Aims, Objectives, and Hypothesis
  • Introduction/rationale
  • Experimental methods, including statistical analysis
  • Anticipated outcomes
  • Potential pitfalls
  • Summer research plan: Please include which portions of the proposal you as the student will be directly involved in/complete and what additional tasks, opportunities your mentor expects to provide during your 10-weeks.
  • References 

Criteria Considered (in no particular order)

Proposal and application will be scored by the following rubric by the selection committee:

  • Originality and relevance to the future advancement of animal health - 30%
  • Student grade point average, academic background, and interest in research - 20%
  • Feasibility of the research plan, budget, and value as a learning experience - 20%
  • Level of support & guidance and overall research experience expected to be provided by mentor(s)/research program - 20%
  • Potential for publication of findings in a scientific journal - 10%

IACUC Protocol

The Institutional Animal Care and Use committee (IACUC) approval must be obtained prior to starting any project that involves the use of live animals. IACUC approval is not necessary before submitting the application and proposal. Please consult with your faculty advisor to ensure you have approval for your study by May. The IACUC proposals are due on the first Monday of the month and can take 1-2 months for review. Advance planning is necessary to be able to start conducting research at the beginning of the program.