About The Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program
Veterinary scientists play a critical role in the discovery and development of new vaccines and pharmaceutical products for veterinary and human health. The Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program provides an opportunity to introduce veterinary medical students to hands-on research through an annual 10-12-week summer program at participating colleges. Additional funding is provided by the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP).
Learn more about the Veterinary Scholars Program
In addition, the application for the 2025 Research Award is open to students from the 2024 summer scholar program.
Learn more about the 2025 Research Award
Program Goals & Key Features
Goals
- Maximize the opportunity for students to further their education and training by learning to conduct biomedical research under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
- Encourage veterinary, pre-vet, and animal science students to consider careers in biomedical research following graduation.
Key Features
- Program is provided for 10 weeks (June 2 - August 11) during Summer 2025.
- Stipend of $6,500; half of which will be paid at the beginning and half at the end of the 10-week program.
- Students conduct hypothesis-driven research under the guidance of an Midwestern University (MWU) faculty mentor.
- Weekly colloquium where each scholar will investigate topics in biomedical research and career development.
- Program orientation with seminars in research methodology and ethics.
- Career chats where scholars will have an opportunity to meet with distinguished speakers regarding careers in biomedical research.
- Presentation of summer research results at the VSS Conference, Spokane, WA, August 7-9, 2025.
Application Details
Requirements
- Students in the first and second years of the veterinary medical program are eligible.
- Students must maintain good academic standing leading up to and during the Summer Research Program.
- Students must have successfully completed VMEDG 1510 Principles of Veterinary Scholarship.
- Orientation in the faculty mentor’s laboratory through successful completion of the VMEDG 1301/1302 Research Elective in Spring 2025, prior to the start of the program.
- Time commitment for the Summer Research Program is expected to be significant and could average 40 hours of research activity per week over the length of the 10-week program.
- Full participation in activities of the Summer Research Program, as stipulated by the Program Directors.
- Full participation in research and/or laboratory activities, as stipulated by the student’s assigned faculty mentor, such as lab meetings, experiments, etc.
- Presentation of research findings as a poster and/or oral presentation at the 2025 NVSS Conference, the CVM Phi Zeta Research Day in Winter 2025, and the MWU KAS Research Day in Spring 2026.
- Student provides final project update, approved by faculty mentor by September 28, 2025.
- Students are not required to have performed past services or to agree to perform future services for the University, as a condition of receiving the research stipend.
Application Components
Application submission deadline is Friday, February 7, 2025. Please apply by using the online application.
Apply Online to Summer Research Program 2025
Application components include:
- A letter of interest indicating:
- Interest in up to three mentors and their corresponding research projects. These choices must be made from the MWU faculty members and research projects and ranked from number one (1) to three (3). Explore research projects and mentor details.
- A vision of how this experience may shape/guide the fellow into a career in biomedical research.
- A statement of whether the applicant will/will not be eligible for Federal Work Study (FWS) funds for the 2025-26 school year.
- Curriculum Vitae
- One letter of reference from a faculty member at the student’s university who is familiar with the student’s interest in research. The student does not have to have prior research experience to qualify for this award.
Application Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by MWU College of Veterinary Medicine Research Committee and ranked based on:
- Eligibility of student
- Letter of interest
- Letter of reference
The highest-ranking applicants will be selected for the program. Awards will be announced no later than February 21, 2025. For additional program information, please email SRP Faculty Co-Directors, Dr. Christopher Olson, colson1@midwestern.edu, or Dr. Jason Struthers, jstrut@midwestern.edu with subject: MWU-SRP-2025.
Number of positions (tentative): Approximately 20 for CVM students, depending on funding availability.
Student Awardees Research Project Details
Student awardees will be guided to the research mentor at MWU whose research project closely aligns with one of the student’s choices.
The student and mentor will then develop a research proposal by April 24, 2025, to include:
- A 3-page research proposal which must contain the following sections: Specific Aims, Background and Significance, Innovation, Research Design, Timeline, and Specifics of Student Involvement. Preliminary data are not required.
- Separate sections of literature cited and biosketch of PI(s), both in NIH format.
- Applicable vertebrate animals, human subjects, and biosafety descriptions in NIH format.
Contact Us
For additional program information, please email SRP Faculty Co-Directors, Dr. Christopher Olson, colson1@midwestern.edu, or Dr. Jason Struthers, jstrut@midwestern.edu with subject: MWU-SRP-2025.
Faculty Research Projects
Laboratory PI: Dr. Clemence Chako
College: College of Veterinary Medicine
Email: cchako@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: The aim of the study is to determine the relationship between ruminal microbiota and shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts. We will enumerate fecal Cryptosporidium oocysts, record clinical signs, collect ruminal fluid, administer oral ruminal fluid from a donor cow, isolate DNA and sequence it based on the 16S gene.
Methods:
- Calf handling, physical examination, diarrhea scoring, ruminal, fluid collection, ruminal fluid administration;
- Fecal Cryptosporidium oocyst enumeration using a hemocytometer;
- DNA isolation and knowledge of sequencing;
- Data analysis
Number of students project may support: 2
Laboratory PI: Dr. Estela Jauregui
College: College of Graduate Studies, Physiology
Email: ejaure@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: Previous research shows phthalates are more toxic to the testes than the ovaries, but studies on sex-specific phthalate toxicity are limited. This project hypothesizes that environmentally relevant phthalate exposure causes sex-specific metabolic and morphological reproductive changes. Using mouse models, it will explore sex differences in phthalate metabolism and differential gonadal morphological changes, identifying target metabolic pathways.
Methods: Immunohistochemistry, bioinformatics, mouse models, qPCR
Number of students project may support: 1
Laboratory PI: Dr. Weidang Li
College: College of Veterinary Medicine
Email: wli@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: Studies of the specific selected miRNAs in modulation of chlamydia infection mouse macrophages.
- Aim 1: Determine the macrophages cytokines production by MiRNAs mimics/inhibitors following chlamydia infection.
- Aim 2: Evaluate whether the macrophages surface marker (PD-1 and TIM-3) will be regulated by MiRNAs mimics/ inhibitors after chlamydia infection.
Methods: Cell culture, cell staining, ELISA and flow cytometry
Number of students project may support: 1
Laboratory PI: Dr. Leigha Lynch
College: College of Graduate Studies, Anatomy
Email: llynch@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: This study focuses on describing the anatomy of two musteloid species, Lontra canadensis (River otter) and Mustela frenata (Least weasel) through virtual dissection. Using micro-CT scans, the students will “dissect” muscles, nerves, blood vessels, bones, and cartilage to describe in high detail the laryngeal and orbital anatomy of these species.
Methods: 3D imaging, radiology, comparative anatomy, anatomical description, dissemination through posters and abstracts
Number of students project may support: 1
Laboratory PI: Dr. Jeff Norris
College: College of Graduate Studies, Pharmacology
Email: jnorri@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: This project is a collaboration between myself, Dr. Jaffey (CVM), and Dr. Veltri (CPG). Blood samples from dogs receiving tadalafil have been collected. Student will participate in drug extraction, measurement, and modeling. Student must complete Spring Research Elective prior to application. Student may participate in other pharmacokinetic projects during summer.
Methods: Drug extraction, LCMS, PK modeling, general statistics
Number of students project may support: 1
Laboratory PI: Dr. Christopher Olson
College: College of Graduate Studies, Physiology
Email: colson1@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: Mammal and bird vocalizations that trill (e.g. vibrato) are intriguing cues for biologists to consider. The black jacobin hummingbird trills its song at 300 Hz, approximately10x faster than any other bird! This project will utilize our library of high-fidelity jacobin recordings to analyze performance constraints on these vocal signals.
Methods: Bioacoustic analysis, statistics, animal behavior
Number of students project may support: 1
Laboratory PI: Dr. Ann Revill
College: College of Graduate Studies, Physiology
Email: arevil@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: This pilot study evaluates isolated and combined effects of aging and chronic intermittent hypoxia on neuromodulatory control of upper airway muscles. We will focus on examining changes in respiratory control mechanisms in vivo and potential molecular and neuroanatomic modifications induced by aging and chronic intermittent hypoxia in the brain.
Methods: Whole body plethysmography, immunofluorescence
Number of students project may support: 2
Laboratory PI: Dr. Ann Revill
College: College of Graduate Studies, Physiology
Email: arevil@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: During sleep, obstructive sleep apnea patients stop breathing many times a night b cause upper airway muscles including the tongue block the airway, leading to cyclically low oxygen levels. This project will test the hypothesis that cyclical low levels of oxygen change acetylcholine effects (normally released during sleep) at tongue motoneurons.
Methods: Electrophysiology, immunofluorescence
Number of students project may support: 2
Laboratory PI: Dr. Tobias Riede
College: College of Graduate Studies, Physiology
Email: triede@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: All mammals including humans produce rhythmical sounds as soon as they are born. Breathing movements, laryngeal movements and orofacial movements must be coordinated to produce such signals. We investigate the anatomy and physiology of vocal organs at organ and cellular level to better understand the complexity of this fascinating behavior.
Methods: Sound and video analysis; histological image analysis; cell culture; CT image analysis/segmention/3D anatomical reconstruction
Number of students project may support: 2
Laboratory PI: Dr. Emily Smith
College: College of Veterinary Medicine
Email: esmith1@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: MWU’s Companion Animal Primary Care dental service made a protocol change in 2024 from perioperative use of injectable antiemetic medication administration to use of oral administered the evening before surgery. This retrospective study will look at client compliance with administration of oral Cerenia prior to dental procedures.
Methods: Retrospective medical records data gathering/compilation
Number of students project may support: 1
Laboratory PI: Dr. Heather F. Smith
College: College of Graduate Studies, Anatomy
Email: hsmith@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: This study will involve digitally dissecting and describing the cranial muscles of two musteloid species, Lontra canadensis (river otter) and Mustela frenata (least weasel) by processing micro-CT scans. Specifically, the muscles of mastication and facial expression, along with their supporting ne rovasculature, will be segmented and 3D models generated.
Methods: Radiology, digital CT segmentation, 3D imaging, anatomical description, comparative anatomy
Number of students project may support: 1
Laboratory PI: Dr. Heather F. Smith
College: College of Graduate Studies, Anatomy
Email: hsmith@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: This study will focus on describing and documenting anatomy of the manus (forepaw) of Tamandua mexicana using anatomical dissection and digital segmentation of microCT scans. In particular, bones of the manus, deep manual muscles, nerves, and blood vessels will be studied and described for the first time in this species.
Methods: Radiology, dissection, digital CT segmentation, 3D imaging, anatomical description, comparative anatomy
Number of students project may support: 2
Laboratory PI: Dr. Jason D. Struthers
College: College of Veterinary Medicine
Email: jstrut@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: Flammulated Owls (FLOW) are small migrating insectivores. In 2024, 54 FLOW were found in Maricopa County coinciding with a heat wave, 42 of which died. This opportunistic study will perform postmortem examinations, histopathology, and offer insight into the health and diseases of an understudied nocturnal owl species.
Methods: Avian postmortem examination, avian tissue trimming, avian histopathology, interpretation of lesions and formulation of final diagnoses, sample collection and storage for additional diagnostics
Number of students project may support: 1
Laboratory PI: Dr. Carrie Veilleux
College: College of Graduate Studies, Anatomy
Email: cveill@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: This project will use anatomical dissection and digital segmentation of microCT scans to investigate the comparative anatomy of the manus (forepaw) of wild three-toed sloths (Bradypus variegatus) from Costa Rica in order to better understand how anatomical differences with two-toed sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni) relate to differences in behavior between species.
Methods: Dissection, anatomical description, comparative anatomy, digital CT segmentation, 3D imaging
Number of students project may support: 2
Laboratory PI: Dr. Jessie Ziegler
College: College of Veterinary Medicine
Email: jziegl@midwestern.edu
Project Summary: The public perception of animal welfare has increased demand for pain management in livestock. Gabapentin is often utilized in practice along with meloxicam to mitigate pain, but there is little information to guide usage in goats. This study aims to explore the pharmacokinetics of gabapentin co-administered with meloxicam in goats.
Methods: IV catheter placement, drug calculation and administration, blood handling and processing, pharmacokinetic data analysis
Number of students project may support: 1
Learn more
Explore details about the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Animal Health Institute.