Other Summer Research Opportunities

Summer Research Opportunities 

Are you interested in summer research, but want a change of scenery?  There are several options for summer research outside of Davis.  Please take note of program dates – they may or may not correspond to our academic calendar at UC Davis.

ARS - Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program (ARS-BIVSP) 

The USDA Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Animal Sciences Research Office (ASRO) is pleased to announce the continuation of the ARS – Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program (BIVSP) for Summer 2027. The call for applications opens on Monday, November 2, 2026.

Selected ARS-supported students will receive a competitive stipend and will be appointed as ORISE Fellows, with their stipend payments administered directly through the ORISE program (no funds are transferred to universities). Travel support will also be provided for each ARS-funded scholar to attend and present their research at the 2027 National Veterinary Scholars Symposium at the end of the summer. Veterinary School-supported students will have to complete a volunteer agreement with ARS.

To be eligible for this program, applicants must be U.S. citizens currently enrolled in an accredited Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. Please note that students must be available to participate for 8–10 weeks during summer 2027 on a full-time basis. Given the intensive nature of the program and the limited slots, students should not commit to other overlapping summer programs or clinical rotations during their ARS research appointment. 

The deadline to submit a completed application is December 4, 2026. Applications will be reviewed in December 2026, with students and their universities receiving notification of award decisions by January 15, 2027.

Please see the attached .pdf for more information and a list of project locations. Students who are interesting in applying for this opportunity should contact the WSVM Office of Research & Graduate Education for assistance. 

Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program (BIVSP) – Other Locations

Schools currently participating in the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program are listed below. Please review the details for each school as application dates, stipend amounts, procedures and program dates vary by school. Applications should be submitted directly to the participating institution.  Please reach out to [email protected] if you are planning to apply for a summer research position at one of these institutions.

Summer Internship in Biomedical Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The Comparative Biomedical Scientists Training Program (CBSTP) is pleased to announce sponsorship for a limited number of summer research training opportunities for pre-doctoral veterinary medical students at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. In addition to working in a research lab, students participate in supplemental activities at the NIH that include research seminars, facility tours, and interactions with veterinarians engaged in biomedical research. Over 100 students representing 28 Colleges of Veterinary Medicine have participated in this unique training experience.  Additional information and application instructions can be found here.  The deadline for applications is Monday, January 27th, 2027.

-More Information (PDF)-

Nestle Purina Veterinary Student Summer Research Fellowship

The objective of this program is to provide veterinary students with an opportunity to participate in research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in canine and feline nutrition and health. To support this goal, a fund has been established that will provide small grants up to $10,000 to faculty members to support a well-designed research project and a veterinary student’s summer salary. The research should be conducted or coordinated by the student and be of sufficient quality to support publication in a veterinary or other scientific journal. In addition to their primary research project, funded students may have opportunities to participate in other scholarly or research activities under the guidance of the faculty member, providing a broader research experience.

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to faculty members who are willing to serve as supervisor and mentor to the veterinary student. Selection is based on the review of proposals received on or before November 1st of each calendar year. Preference is given to those studies addressing nutritional issues relevant to canines and felines. Invasive or terminal research projects are not eligible for funding.

To apply for a grant, interested students should secure the assistance of a faculty member willing to serve as their supervisor.

Purina Veterinary Student Fellowship Details

Summer Opportunities for Veterinary Students at Johns Hopkins University

Every summer, The Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology offers summer fellowships in comparative pathology to veterinary students. This program provides experience in diagnostic pathology for a wide range of laboratory, domestic and exotic animal species, experimental pathology, and biomedical research. Summer fellows participate in laboratory animal pathology submissions, as well as cases from local zoo and aquarium collections, and local practitioners. They perform gross necropsies, trim tissues, and assess histopathology. Cases are signed out with faculty ACVP Diplomates. Fellows work closely with postdoctoral DVMs training in Veterinary Pathology and Laboratory Animal Medicine. Trainee necropsy rotation is two to three days per week, and they are not required to be on evening or weekend call. Summer fellows participate in research projects mentored by faculty pathologists or investigators. 

The program starts mid-May 18, and continues for a minimum of 8 weeks, up to a maximum of 10 weeks. Fellows join a community of veterinary students engaged in this and other summer training programs in the department. The programs include multiple organized professional development and training activities, so Fellows are encouraged to take vacation before or after the fellowship, however there will be flexibility in the start date for students whose academic year ends after May 18, 2027. This program provides a weekly stipend of approximately $566.

Eligible candidates must have completed 2 years of the professional veterinary curriculum in an a AVMA Accredited College of Veterinary Medicine. All eligible students interested in pursuing research and veterinary anatomic pathology as a career are encouraged to apply.

Please visit the JHMI website for more information and application guidelines. You may contact [email protected] with program related questions. 

Other Opportunities

• Cornell University Leadership Program for Veterinary Students
• Dr. James A. Ferguson Emerging Infectious Disease Fellowship Program
• Student and Summer Employment Opportunities - USDA, Agriculture Research Services
• Havemeyer Foundation Equine Fellowship
• University of Michigan Animal Care Progaram: Programs for Veterinarians and Veterinary Students
• American Society of Laboratory Animal Medicine Preceptorships
• Tulane National Primate Research Center