Summer Veterinary Student Research Program

Mission

The objective of the SVSRP is to expose veterinary students to the diverse research opportunities for a biomedical/health science research career. Veterinarians with a biomedical/health science research background are in demand, and this career path provides many opportunities in academic, federal, biotech, and pharmaceutical institutions. To achieve the program's objective, four key success factors have been identified:

• Close interaction of highly motivated students who show an interest in research with enthusiastic, competent scientists as mentors
• Educational activities that support a fundamental learning experience in biomedical/health science research
• Exposure to DVM scientists in federal governmental agencies, academia (medical and veterinary school), and industry who have chosen to pursue a biomedical research career
  * The program's distinguishing features are its close proximity to Washington, D.C., and the presence of VMCVM's campus in College Park, Maryland. Summer scholars will have an opportunity to visit DVM scientists working in federal agencies, such as the NIH, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration-CVM
• Breakfast seminar with DVM scientists from federal agencies, pharmaceutical and biotech industry, and medical schools
• Strong follow-up program ensuring research options for program alumni

Funding

• SVSRP trainees receive a stipend by direct deposit to their designated bank account. Historically, stipends have been equivalent to the amount specified by the annual NIH Ruth Kirschstein National Service Award standard. 
• Travel, lodging, and meals for the Washington, D.C., trip and the National Veterinary Scholars Symposium will be covered by the program.

Tentative timeline

Week 1: Orientation

The SVSRP includes an initial one-week orientation with short courses in the following subjects:

• Biostatistics and Experimental Design: Students obtain a basic understanding of the requirements for the design of studies, the planning and implementation of data collection and organization, approaches for data analysis, how to evaluate the output of such analyses, and critical evaluation of published information. Topics covered include the characteristics of distributions, indicators of central tendency and variability, sampling distributions and probability, regression and techniques of hypothesis testing (parametric and non-parametric uni- and multivariable tests of continuous and categorical variables), and specific learning resources outside of the course.
• Research Management: This course describes the requirements and procedures for successfully managing a research project and developing a research program. Methods of project planning, monitoring, and reporting are discussed. Also, various forms of research organization structure and research development opportunities are illuminated, within a context of career paths and opportunities, including a brief discussion of intellectual property issues.
• Scientific Writing: This workshop focuses on helping students avoid the most egregious errors of scientific writing. These errors include improperly organizing the information, not emphasizing the key details, not writing clearly, not making smooth transitions between details, and not selecting persuasive illustrations.
• Common Experimental Techniques and Methods: Trainees will be exposed to common laboratory techniques that could include cell isolation, microscopy, flow cytometry, and molecular biology.
• General Workshops: Workshops are tailored to include topics as presentation skills, poster and PowerPoint design, and keeping a laboratory notebook.
• Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals: The first hour of this course covers laws, regulations, and guidelines affecting animal care and use; ethical issues; introduction to replacement, reduction, and refinement (referred to as the 3Rs); and methods used to assess availability of alternatives. The second hour covers husbandry requirements for common laboratory animal species, recognizing and controlling variables, recognizing and minimizing pain and distress, and common laboratory animal technical and surgical procedures. The third hour covers animal model criteria, animal model selection, and common animal models.
• Ethical Conduct of Research and Policy: Instruction in the responsible conduct of research includes three one-hour classes during orientation. Scientists are now increasingly required to go beyond experimental design and factor in ethical, social, and legal responsibilities as they plan and conduct their programs of animal research. We consider the nature of these responsibilities from two perspectives: scientific community and general public. Overall, the course examines the professional values, policies, and procedures emanating from within the scientific community itself that undergird the responsible conduct of research, which include the following areas: research conduct; peer review; authorship; publication; mentoring; conflict of interest; data ownership; record-keeping; environmental health and safety; and policies and guidelines for responsible conduct of research.

The ethical issues involved in the use of research subjects are not covered in this course. Policies and ethical considerations regarding the use of animal subjects are handled during the orientation in a separate short course. Students are provided materials for self-learning about the use of human subjects, but due to time constraints, human studies are not covered in this short course. This short course and the associated research subject material covered is meant to be an overview. A career in research would require further in-depth treatment of these subjects. SVSRP trainees are expected to attend this short course, and readings and exercises are provided in class that require the students to interact with other students and their mentors who are asked to attend, if possible, as part of their mentoring responsibility.

Week 2: Trip to Washington, D.C.

A four-day visit to Washington, D.C., which is provided through cooperation with the Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, is designed to accomplish the following:

1. Expose students to a spectrum of research conducted by DVM scientists at various governmental facilities, industry, and nongovernmental organizations; and
2. Guide students to develop an understanding of public policy as it relates to and is influenced by biomedical research and public and animal health.

The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area has the highest concentration of veterinarians working in the public and corporate sectors in the world. Students participating in the program have facilitated visits with multiple veterinarians engaged in research careers in many government agencies and corporations. The visits provide students with the opportunity to network with these veterinarians. Students will likely meet with potential future colleagues and employers at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (including the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration), U.S. Department of Agriculture, and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Coordinated travel is organized to and from Blacksburg, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Weeks 2–11: Summer research

Trainees spend nine-and-a-half weeks in the laboratory implementing a research plan finalized during orientation under close guidance by their assigned mentor.

Weekly seminar

• An hourlong seminar is held at 9 a.m. each Friday during the summer research period.
• Each year's seminar series theme will be "DVMs in Biomedical Research." Past lectures have been presented by role model faculty members with diverse expertise, including DVMs from Boehringer-Ingelheim, Pharmaceuticals, the NIH, medical schools, Contract research organizations, and diagnosticians.

Potential mentors: Research areas and contact information

These faculty were selected as potential mentors because they have active research funding (mostly from NIH), as well as substantial experience in mentoring research trainees at the pre- and post-doctoral level. Detailed information about each potential faculty mentor is available through the links provided below. Applicants who wish to discuss their application and research interests may contact these faculty. Please note that some faculty members may not be available for a particular summer. Prospective students are encouraged to contact potential mentors for their availability to discuss their research interests and ascertain to have a student in their laboratory for the summer. Some faculty members not listed below (especially from other colleges) may also be considered mentors contingent upon the agreement with the mission of this program and the approval of the program director, Dr. Ahmed.

Please click on faculty name for more research and academic information.

Infectious Diseases

• Clayton Caswell, PhD, associate professor of bacteriology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (caswellc@vt.edu, 540-231-5591). 
• Andrea S. Bertke, PhD, associate professor of infectious diseases in public health, Department of Population Health Sciences (asbertke@vt.edu, 540-231-2707). 
• Nisha Duggal, PhD, associate professor of molecular and cellular biology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (nduggal@vt.edu, 540-231-6705).
  
• Luis E. Escobar, assistant professor, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Virginia Tech (escobar1@vt.edu, 540-232-8485).
• Raj Gaji, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, assistant professor of parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (rajgaji@vt.edu, 540-231-0918). 
• Erin Gloag, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology and biofilm biology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (erinsg@vt.edu, 540-231-9995).
• Kylene Kehn-Hall, PhD, professor of virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (kkehnhall@vt.edu, 540-231-6705).
  
• Kevin Lahmers, DVM, PhD, DACVP–Anatomic Pathology, clinical associate professor of anatomic pathology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (klahmers@vt.edu, 540-231-7632).
• X.J. Meng, MD, MS, PhD, University Distinguished Professor of Molecular Virology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology; professor of internal medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (xjmeng@vt.edu, 540-231-6912).
  
• Roger A. Ramirez Barrios, DVM, MS, PhD, clinical associate professor of veterinary parasitology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (raramirez@vt.edu, 540-231-0436). 
• Mohamed Seleem, DVM, MS, PhD, professor of bacteriology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (seleem@vt.edu, 540-231-6705).
• James Weger-Lucarelli, PhD, research assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (weger@vt.edu, 540-231-6594).

Immume-Mediated and Inflammatory Diseases

• Ansar Ahmed, DVM, PhD, professor of immunology, professor of faculty of health sciences (ansrahmd@vt.edu, 540-231-5649).
  
• Irving C. Allen, MS, MBA, PhD, professor of inflammatory disease, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (icallen@vt.edu, 540-231-7551).
• Liwu Li, professor of biological sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science (lwli@vt.edu, 540-231-1433).
• Tanya LeRoith, DVM, PhD, DACVP–Anatomic Pathology, clinical professor of anatomic pathology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (tleroith@vt.edu, 540-231-7627).
• Xin M. Luo, PhD, professor of immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (xinluo@vt.edu, 540-231-0977).
  
• Christopher Reilly, PhD, associate professor and discipline chair of physiology, Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine; adjunct faculty, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (creilly@vcom.vt.edu, 540-231-5345).
  
• Joanne Tuohy, DVM, PhD, DACVS–Small Animal, assistant professor of surgical oncology, Animal Cancer Care and Research Center (jltuohy@vt.edu, 540-526-2328).
• Lijuan Yuan, PhD, professor of virology and immunology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (lyuan@vt.edu, 540-231-5154).

Comparative, Translational, & Veterinary Research

• Orsolya Balogh, DVM, PhD, DACT, associate professor of theriogenology, JoAnne S. O'Brien Professor of Theriogenology, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (obalogh@vt.edu, 540-231-6954).
• Giulio Menciotti , DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM-Cardiology, assistant professor of cardiology, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (giuliom@vt.edu, 540-231-7588). 
• Richard Shinn, DVM, MS, DACVIM–Neurology, assistant professor of neurology, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (shinndvm@vt.edu, 540-231-4666).
• Jamie Stewart, DVM, PhD, MS, DACT, assistant professor of production management medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (jlstewart13@vt.edu, 540-231-9251). 
• Ashley Wilkinson, DVM, MS, DACVIM, assistant professor of internal medicine, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (ashleyrw@vt.edu, 540-231-7690). 
• Sharon Witonsky, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, associate professor of equine field services, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (switonsk@vt.edu, 540-231-2773).

Neuropathobiology

• Blaise Costa, MPharm, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (bcosta@vt.edu, 540-231-1468).
• Shannon Farris, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (farrissl@vtc.vt.edu).
  
• Paul Morton, PhD, assistant professor of neurodevelopment and neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (pmorton@vt.edu, 540-231-4891).
  
• Yuchin Pan, PhD, associate professor of neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (yapan@vtc.vt.edu).
• Rell Parker, DVM, PhD, DACVIM–Neurology, assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (rell@vt.edu, 540-231-2735).
• John H. Rossmeisl, Jr., DVM, MS, DACVIM–Internal Medicine and Neurology, Dr. and Mrs. Dorsey Taylor Mahin Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences (jrossmei@vt.edu).
  
• Sharon Swanger, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (saswanger@vtc.vt.edu).
  
• Michelle Theus, PhD, associate professor of molecular and cellular neurobiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (mtheus@vt.edu).
  
• Hehuang "David" Xie, PhD, professor of epigenomics and computational biology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology (davidxie@vt.edu, 540-231-9244).

Population Health Sciences/Public Health

• Laura Hungerford, DVM, MPH, PhD, CPH, professor of veterinary public health and epidemiology, Department of Population Health Sciences (lhungerf@vt.edu, 540-231-3532).
  
• Cassidy Rist, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, assistant professor, Center for Public and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences (crist6@vt.edu, 540-231-3373).
• Audrey Ruple, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM, MRCVS, associate professor of quantitative epidemiology, Metcalf Professor of Veterinary Medical Informatics, Department of Population Health Sciences (aruple@vt.edu, 540-231-0342).

2023 SVSRP

• Alexandra Tolleson
  Thromboelastography in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Tara Long
  Exploring correlations between horse behavior and serologic antibody presence for Borrelia burgdorfer
• Jessie Gaine
  Assessment of teleneurology and its accuracy in neurolocalization during a veterinary neurologic exam
• Annika Heyder, Freie Universität Berlin
  Fitness of Usutu Virus in mosquito and mouse cells
• Brett Connolly
  Assessment of teleneurology and its accuracy in neurolocalization during a veterinary neurologic exam
• Ryan Jordan
  DNA Sequence Variation Assessment of Toll-Like Receptor, Immune Response Gene mgTLR+, in Meleagris gallopavo
• Alex Marsh
  Analysis of Piroplasmids in Ectoparasites of snakes in the Peruvian Amazon
• Julianna Scardina
  Strolling with shelter cats
• Taylor Mortensen
  The bacterial microbiome of ectoparasites found on snakes in the Peruvian Amazon
• Kelli Gillespie
  Validation of iSperm analyzer for assessing ram semen quality
• Noah Goldfarb
  An Investigation of High Pulse Repetition Frequency Histotripsy for Osteosarcoma Ablation

2022 SVSRP

• Olivia Echols
  Investigating the ablative and immunomodulatory effects of high-frequency irreversible electroporation in osteosarcoma
• Matthew Santos
  Assessing T-Cell Responses to a Novel Preclinical Zika Virus Vaccine Candidate
• Zach Kirkpatrick
  The Effect of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds on Estrogen and Progesterone in Pregnant Mice
• Daniel Eichelberger
  Assessing spectrophotometric turbidity testing as a rapid assessment of failure of passive transfer of immunity in neonatal lambs
• Anna Foley
  Determining Genetic Markers of SARS-CoV-2 Adaptation to Human and Animal Hosts
• Eric Britton
  Chronic Wasting Disease Risk Analysis related to ViTALS NAHLN Accreditation
• Kayla Rojas
  Characterization of the BAB2_0857 protein in Brucella abortus
• Katie Gingrich
  Evaluating infectivity of Spondweni virus and Zika virus on murine spermatogonia cells
• Mishana Smith
  A Presumptive Diagnostic Technique of Identifying Bovine Anemia Associated with Theileria orientalis Ikeda Genotype in Virginia
• Haleigh Hixson
  Evaluating the effects of histotripsy-treated canine osteosarcoma on monocyte phenotype
• Nicolette Smith
  Evaluating the relationship of mechanical allodynia and downregulation of the Chrna6 gene in mice models

2021 SVSRP

• Katherine Bukovec
  History of eccentric contractions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• Elaina Davis
  Immunomodulatory effects of high-frequency irreversible electroporation on canine primary lung cancer
• Amy Lin
  Investigating the mechanism behind a phenotypic drift in lupus-prone mice
• Emma Loessberg
  Susceptibility of mosquito and bird cells to Usutu virus
• Julia Mykins
  The role of the gut microbiome on neurogenesis and cortical development in germ free piglets
• Holly Newberne
  Using DAPI-PI staining to determine Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst viability compared to qPCR quantification
• Brigid Sexton
  Deslorelin-induced infertility affects expression of selected antioxidant enzymes in the testis of dogs

2020 SVSRP

• Cara Costanzo
  Phylogenetic Analysis and Protein Level Mapping of Mutations in African and European Usutu Virus Strains
• Rebecca Weiske
  The contribution of sympathetic neurons to recurrent disease caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1 and 2, in a Guinea Pig model

2019 SVSRP

Read more about the 2019 program→

• Ian Anderson
  Characterizing the role of fucose in Brucella pathogenesis
• Kate Bukovec
  Effect of human gait modeling in mdx mouse soleus on muscle oxidative stress
• Catherine Buryn
  A Novel Flavivirus Vaccine to Prevent Vertical Transmission of Zika Virus
• Zach Groff
  Effect of Germ-Free Conditions on Radial Glial Progenitor Stem Cells in the Subventricular and Outer Subventricular Zones
• Taylor James
  QAC Resistance Study in Hospitalized Horses
• Taschua Jeboda
  Evaluating the role of miR-183-96-182 miRNA cluster in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Meg Oberer
  Creation and characterization of single amino acid variant mutants of Mayaro virus
• Nicholas Pietrobono
  What is the ability of African and European isolates of Usutu virus to infect cells from non-avian species such as bats and rodents?
• Alex Safian
  Impact of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry5B crystal protein on strongylid larvae development
• Joshua Scharf
  Screening of AAV serotype panel for efficient transduction of sensory and autonomic neurons in guinea pigs
• Yiannis Sotiropoulos
  Influence of endothelial cell-specific erythropoietin-producing-hepatocellular carcinoma receptor (Eph) on the blood-brain barrier following traumatic brain injury
• Kelli Stone
  The role of M2-polarized macrophages in canine soft tissue sarcoma progression

2018 SVSRP

Read more about the 2018 program→

• Roel Becerra, Purdue University CVM
  A Natural Murine Infection Model to Delineate the Immunobiology and Persistence of Noroviruses
• Alex Bradshaw
  Quantitative Evaluation of the Effects of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) on Molecules Associated with T Cell Stimulation
• Sabrina Callaway
  Role of microRNAs in the lupus-gut microbiome axis
• Stephanie Crawford
  Assessment of Zika Virus Persistence in Various Tissues after Subcutaneous and Sexual Transmission
• Francesca Frere
  Susceptibility of Commons U.S. Birds and Mosquitoes to USUV Strains and the Possibility of Cross-Neutralization by WNV or SLEV
• Elise Hennessy, Auburn University CVM
  Understanding the role of Culex mosquitoes and avian host in the sylvatic transmission of Mayaro virus
• Shawn Kozlov
  Evaluating the Effects of Boiling Histotripsy on Immune Response and Metastasis using a 4TI Breast Tumor Model
• Mitchell Meyerhoeffer
  Investigating the immune response to High Frequency Irreversible Electroporation (H-FIRE) in canine hepatocellular carcinoma
• Ying Ngo
  Synovial Macrophage Response to Bone Marrow Mononuclear Cells in Normal versus Inflamed Equine Joints
• TJ Quinn
  Purification of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes via metabolic-selection using lactase supplemented medium
• Taylor Simmons
  Dysregulated noncanonical NF-kB signaling is associated with eosinophilic esophagitis and the effect of NIK on eosinophil migration
• Sierrah Travis
  Impact of gut microbiota on the fate of neural stem cells

2017 SVSRP

Read more about the 2017 program→

• Kristin Blount
  The Effect of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) on Development of IgA Responses
• Kaya Bryant, Tuskegee University CVM
  Environmental heat exposure among pet dogs in rural and urban counties of the South
• Meghan Dau
  Characterization of genes involved in infection by Brucella abortus by the oral route
• Glenn Elias
  qPCR Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. in eggs obtained from Ranged-Reared and Small Backyard Chicken Flocks in the New River Valley of Virginia and the Relationship to Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacterial Disease in Humans
• Elizabeth Majette
  Evaluation of immunogenicity of candidate rotavirus vaccine P-VP8* in gnotobiotic pig model of human rotavirus infection and disease
• Nick Moore
  Using Differences in Gene Expression to Differentiate Histiocytic Sarcoma from Soft Tissue Sarcoma
• Andrea Oliver
  Meta-Analysis of human patient samples after Traumatic Brain Injury using the Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research (FITBIR) informatics system
• Samantha Perry
  Expression of Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Canine Histiocytic Disease
• Chelsea Pollak
  Understanding cellular mediators of breast and pancreatic cancer tumor clearance following ablation therapy using high frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE)
• Evymarie Prado-Sanchez
  Characterization of the nikR gene in Brucella abortus
• Ashley Saver
  Assessment of Zika Virus neurotropism and pathogenesis
• Tracy Wachbrit
  Determining the role of single viral capsid mutations in altering the host range and fitness of viruses
• Caleb Whitfield
  Role of CX3CR1 in Pathogenesis of Murine Lupus

2016 SVSRP

Read more about the 2016 program→

• Stephanie Folkerts, North Carolina State University CVM
  Isolation of antibiotic-producing bacteria from New River Valley (NRV) soil
• Kari Hecker
  Commercialization of an ELISA for Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale using hemolytic and non-hemolytic isolates
• Bathilda Lake
  Equine PCV, Erythrocyte Potassium and Transferrin Correlations
• Tyler Lawnichak
  Influence of donepezil on the development of Toxoplasma gondii and its potential relationship to Alzheimer’s
• Melissa Lopez, Tuskegee University CVM
  Characterization of Vascular remodeling in the canine brain following Traumatic Brain Injury
• Caitlin Mason
  Native and Recombinant PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 mRNA Variants for Study of Porcine Circovirus Associated Disease
• Lauren Page
  Efficacy of a New Diagnostic Procedure, the Mini-FLOTAC, in the Diagnosis of Canine Giardia Infection
• Evymarie Prado-Sanchez
  Nickel Homeostasis and Bacterial Pathogenesis: Examining NikR Regulatory System in Brucella abortus
• Ellen Russell
  NLR Inflammasome Recognition of Clostridium difficile
• Vincent Travella
  Control of lupus nephritis by manipulating gut microbiota during active disease

2015 SVSRP

• Mitch Caudill
  Characterization of the putR gene in Brucella abortus
• Corren Freeman, Tuskagee University CVM
  Exploring the mechanisms of the components interleukin-1
• Chris Gow
  Characterization of Arteriogenesis in Juvenile Mice Following Traumatic Brain Injury
• Judy Jean, University of Wisconsin CVM
  Use of digital droplet PCR to quantify DNA copy number of hsp90 gene in Aedes aegypti
• Anna Jiang
  Targeting glioblastoma for enhanced oncolysis by Newcastle disease virus
• Kelsey Jorge, Midwestern University CVM
  Efficacy of butyrylcholinesterase as a topical scavenger agent against the organophosphate paraoxon
• Caroline Moon
  The Effect of common commercial rodent diets on lupus associated epigenetic factors and glomerulonephritis in MRL-lpr mice
• Sandra Muller, University of Utrecht CVM
  Anatomic regurgitant orifice area (AROA) obtained using 3D-echocardiography as an indicator of severity of mitral regurgitation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease
• Erika Olney, Midwestern University CVM
  Evaluation of RNActive®-based rotavirus vaccine in the gnotobiotic pig model of human rotavirus infection
• Luis Rivero
  Beating cardiac aggregate survival in long term culture can be enhanced by alginate-based microencapsulation
• Deepinder Sidhu
  CT-guided brain biopsy using an inexpensive brain phantom and a veterinary specific stereotactic system

2014 SVSRP

• Camille Brandenburg
  Studying iron transport in Drosophila melanogaster and the effects of iron on insect cells
• Melissa Brusie
  Expression of miR-181a in immune cells from a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus
• Kristen Hill
  Isolation and identification of antibiotic producing microbes from soil
• Andrew Jones
  X and Y feline chromosomal DNA probe generation and placental tissue staining for the improved differentiation of maternal and fetal tissue
• Jasmine Jones
  Characterization of the regulatory response of Brucella abortus to deoxycholate stress
• Kye Kable
  Caspase-11 attenuates gastrointestinal inflammation and experimental colitis pathogenesis
• Anna Katogiritis
  Donepezil hydrocholoride inhibits development of tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii in human retinal epithelial cell cultures
• Vincent Michels
  The effect of bacterial depletion on pial collateral development
• Stephanie Paultre
  A look at the detrimental effects of quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) on sertoli cells
• Jason Regalado
  Evaluation of an isothermal DNA amplification assay for Salmonella with applications for food safety
• Muzzy Sayyid
  Differentiation of male germ cells from murine pluripotent stem cells in vitro
• Tim Scott
  Investigating the trophic capabilities of equine adipose-derived cells
• Taylor Stephens
  Effect of high fat diet and endotoxemia on mTOR activiation

2013 SVSRP

• Jordan Adair
  The Role of EphA4 in Pial Arteriole Collateral Development
• Camille Brandenburg
  Visualizing the Colocalization of Proteins involved in RNAi using IFA in Aedes aegypti
• Penelope Burchfiel
  Three-Dimensional Culture of Equine Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mitigates Anti-Inflammatory Properties
• Elle Donnini
  Ability of Stromal Vascular Fraction Cells to Induce a Regenerative Response in Tendon Fibroblasts Via Secretion of Soluble Factors
• John Gil
  All-Trans-Retinoic Acid (atRA) Regulates CpG-mediated Production of Inflammatory Cytokines in Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell (pDC) Line CAL-1
• Madison Jubirt
  Characterization of a Novel Small Regulatory RNA, Bsr7, From Brucella abortus 2308
• Sarah Peloquin
  The Influence of Simvastatin on Cytokine Responses To Norovirus or P Particle Vaccine in Gnotobiotic Pigs
• Jonathan Samuelson
  Preconditioning of hCSCs with LPS Enhances Cell Survival through a TLR-4-Mediated Anti-Apoptotic Mechanism
• Patricia Shanteau
  The Reproductive and Developmental Effects of Ubiquitous Quaternary Ammonia Compounds
• Vanessa Wallace
  Acute Effects of Multiple Dose Fullerene Exposures in Mice After Intravenous or Intraperitoneal Exposure

2012 SVSRP

• Stephanie Apple
  Role of Adipose-Derived Adult Stem Cells as Trophic Mediators of Tissue Regeneration
• Emma Kate Evans
  Fluorescent Labeling of Carboxymethylcellulose Acetate Butyrate (CMCAB) for in vitro and in vivo Uptake Studies
• Brent Gordon
  Alterations in Plasacytoid Dendritic Cells in the Progression of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Jessica Gould
  The Effect of Environmental Conditions on the Viability of Parascaris equorum Eggs
• Ellie Kornfeind
  Maternal Nutrition Increases Risk of Metabolic Disease in Mature Offspring
• Sarah Repsher
  The Role of EphA4 Receptor in Tube Formation of Cultured Primary Endothelial Cells Derived from the Cerebral Vasculature of C57BL/6 Mice
• Lauren Robinson
  Differential, Tissue-specific Micro-RNA Expression in Lupus and Non-lupus Mice
• Jennifer Shonts
  Phenotypic Modulation of Porcine Dendric Cells Following in vitro Co-infection with Porcine Circovirus Type 2 and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus
• Greg Simonek
  Delineating the Estrogen-mediated effects of megakaryocytes on Mesenchymal Stem Cells
• Jesse Sugrue
  Household Teratogens and Their Effects on Neural Tube Defects

2011 SVSRP

• Kathryn Dorsey
  Identifying Regulatory T Cell Epitopes in Porcine Circovirus 2
• Melani French
  Detrimental Disinfectancts? Neural tube defects in mice exposed to quaternary ammonium compounds
• Cassandra Martin
  Isoforms of VEGF-A Expressed in the Feline Placenta
• Savannah McReynolds
  Differential Expression of Lupus-associated microRNAs in Male and Female Autoimmune-prone Mice
• Elizabeth Mongeon
  Molecular Characteristics of Methicillin Resistance in Staphylococci Isolated from Animals at Three Teaching Hospitals
• Cyrus Wegbreit
  Cell Cycle Arrest by Newcastle Disease Virus for Tumor Selectivity
• Jacob Cawley
  Morphological Evaluation of Dysplastic Megakaryocytes in a Mouse Model for Myelodysplastic Syndrome
• Gabriel Mills
  Isolation of Canine Spermatogonial Stem Cells Using Thy1 (CD90) with Magnetic-activated Cell Sorting
• Amanda Weakley
  Use of Hair Scores as a Simple Method to Detect Fescue Toxicosis in Cattle

2010 SVSRP

• Christine Keyserling
  The effects of exogenous sphingosineon clusteringene expression in a mouse model of progressive ovarian cancer
• Robert Cullen
  Cytokine Measurements to Judge Effects of Maternal Immune Stimulation on Teratogen-Exposed pregnancies
• Rachael Edwards
  Maternal Alcohol Use on the Immediate and Long Term Health of Offspring
• Galit Frydman
  A Study of VEGF-A and Vascularization in the Feline Reproductive Tract
• Dorothy Jones
  Effect of Lactobacillus Acidophilus on Serum Antibody Responses Induced by Rotavirus Vaccine
• Tara Martin
  A Comparison of the Interactions of PRRSV and PCV2 in vitro
• Michelle Welton
  Delineation of the Antigen-Activated T-cell Response in the NUP98HOXD13 Mouse Model for Myelodysplastic Syndrome

2009 SVSRP

• Anastasiya Soper
  Effects of Dietary Leucine on Calpain/Calpastatin and mTOR/p-mTOR Contents in Cardiac Tissues of MDX Mice
• Carmen Ledesma
  Viability and Efficacy of Chimeric Porcine Circovirus (PVC) Constructs using PSV1 and PCV2 Strains
• Elizabeth Ferguson
  Evaluation of Murine Skeletal Defects from Maternal Exposure to Tap Water
• Janice Thomas
  Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial DNA Variation, and Immune Response in the Domestic Chicken, Gallus gallus
• Kyle Webb
  Incorporating Viral M2e Proteins as an Adjuvant on Virus Surface
• Lara Brennecke
  Effect on Fertility in Male Dogs Vaccinated with a GnRH Vaccine containing B-cell Adjuvant
• Robert Edwards
  Folate Targeted Newcastle Disease Virus for Cancer Therapy

2008 SVSRP

• Kristin Eden
  Anti-inflammatory Activity of Curcumin in a Murine Model of Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis
• Ashley Manari
  Exacerbation of Lupus in 36-Week Old SNF1 Mice Prenatally Exposed to TCDD
• Melanie Burgess
  Ultrastructure of Sensory Neurons in Organophosphate-Induced Delayed Neuropathy (OPIDN)
• James Corrigan
  Oral Rabies Vaccine Bait Contact at Culverts Evaluated with Tracking Plates
• Michelle Creame
  rValidation of a Human ELISA Assay to Detect c-Kit Protein in Plasma from Canine Patients with Cutaneous Mast Tumor Cells
• Michelle Larson
  Does Interlukin-1 Receptor Associated Kinase-1 (IRAK-1) Modulate Differentiation of Alternatively Activated Macrophages that are Dose-dependent Induces by IL-4?
• Katrina Rower
  Distribution and Histological Evaluation of Intra-peritoneal Administered Nanoparticles
• Sheryl Coutermarsh-Ott
  Developmental TCDD Exposure Induces Autoimmune Lupus in 36-Week Old C57BL/6 Mice
• Kimberly Horton
  Oncolytic Efficacy of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus against Glioma Cells

2007 SVSRP

• Cara Cherry
  Characterization of a lipooligosaccharide biosynthesis locus (lob) in Histophilus somni (H. somni)
• Toshiko Kobayashi
  Prion Knockdown in Differentiating Embryonic Stem Cells
• Paul Listrani
  5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribofuranoside (AICAR) Inhibits Inflammatory Mediator Production in vitro in SNF1 Mice
• Tannia Clark
  Evaluation of gross/histological lesions in mouse model
• Laura Owens
  Evaluating Raccoon Activity Zones on Virginia Tech's CampusHeather GrochImmune Consequence of Exposure to Endocrine Destructive Chemicals
• Javiera Bahamonde
  Heart Developmental Alterations in Gestation Day 17 CD1 Mouse Fetuses of Diabetic Mothers: a Study Using Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Mouse Models

1) If I am selected for SVSRP, will I be funded during the summer?

Yes. All selected summer research trainees will be paid a stipend based on the NIH scale. This program is funded by NIH T35, Boehringer-Ingelheim, and the College.

2) The application states, "Please send a copy of your resume/CV and two letters of recommendation by email to ansrahmd@vt.edu." Can I get one recommendation letter from my Bachelor of Science faculty?

Yes. We need at least one recommendation letter from your veterinary college professor. The other recommendation letter can be from any faculty member, including your B.S. program faculty, familiar with your academic background and/or scientific curiosity. 

3) I have no prior research experience. Will I be considered for the summer research program?

Yes. There is no requirement for prior research experience. This program is designed to give hands-on research exposure to DVM students. An important driver is your research interest, passion for exposure to a research environment, and not previous research experience.

4) Is it mandatory to have a mentor selected when applying?

No. It is not mandatory. It is recommended that you communicate with potential mentors to assess the fit and their availability. A potential mentor can also be a source of a reference letter. Please click the "Potential SVSRP Mentors" tab above and then click on the faculty hyperlink for more details.

Suppose a mentor is not identified when applying. In that case, it is important to rank the order of your research interests (e.g., "Infectious Diseases, Inflammatory Diseases, Comparative, Translational & Veterinary Research, and Population Health Science/Public Health." The Program Director (Dr. Ahmed) can guide you in finding a suitable mentor.

5) Is it mandatory to be present throughout the summer? I am excited about the research opportunity, but I have an unavoidable family event that requires me to be out of town for a few days. Will this exclude me from the program?

We highly recommend student participation throughout the summer since the program is valuable for building contacts with DVMs in science and future career opportunities. The stipend stipulates the time spent. That said, it is recognized that the student may need to be out of town for a legitimate family obligation for a few days. Working with the mentor and the program director is recommended to address absences and the potential to make them up. If feasible, a Zoom participation can be arranged.  The mandatory participation will be in the orientation week, meeting DVMs when scheduled, presenting their research to the college, and attending the national meeting. 

6) Can I continue the project after the program and hopefully be a co-author on future publications or presentations?

Yes. You are highly encouraged to work with your mentor about potential future participation (even if brief intermittent periods over the DVM period). Typically, most professors would encourage continued interactions. Also, when feasible, you can spend time in the lab during your future elective block. Should you be a co-author on a presentation or publication, please notify Dr. Ahmed since he has to report these achievements to the sponsors.