Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program (BIVSP)
The UAF Department of Veterinary Medicine is proud to announce that we are funded by the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program (BIVSP), which offers fully funded summer research (12 week) stipends for two veterinary students. You will gain experience in hypothesis-driven research in veterinary, biomedical, and One Health topics. The program culminates in a research symposium where you will present your findings with a poster presentation to faculty and peers.
2025 Program Dates: May 26, 2025 - August 8, 2025
Application Deadline: 11:59 pm on Monday, February 10, 2025
Application Eligibility
Interested 1st and 2nd year veterinary students from any accredited veterinary college in North America are encouraged to apply.
- Student must have completed at least one year of the veterinary curriculum by May of the program year
- Veterinary school must be AVMA accredited and located in North America
- Trainees must be in good academic standing
- International students are also eligible to apply (pre-approved Boehringer Ingelheim International Scholars)
- Students from underrepresented backgrounds (as defined by NIH ) are highly encouraged to apply.
Find A Mentor:
Funded projects will provide students with a stipend (40 hours per week commitment required). Mentors must provide a letter of support outlining the proposed research project and commit to covering any research expenses (material, supplies, services, and equipment). Only one student per mentor can be funded through the VSSP program. Students interested in applying should develop a short proposal together with one of our collaborating Principal Investigators (PIs).
Principal Investigators:
- Dr. Lara Horstmann - Microplastics, hormones, and fatty acids in marine mammals
- Dr. Maegan Daniello Weltzin - Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in neurological disorders and infectious disease
- Dr. Greg Pietsch - Canine cognitive dysfunction disorder
- Dr. Kelly Drew - Hibernation physiology
- Dr. Alexander Kitaysky - Microbiomes and stress in migratory seabirds
- Dr. Mario Muscarella - Microbiome in various herbivores (moose, ptarmigan, hare, grouse)
- Dr. Kriya Dunlap - Sled dog as a model for human health
- Dr. Marianne Lian - Contaminants and zoonotic disease in wildlife; Sled dog drug testing
- Dr. Cristina Hansen - Bacterial disease in wildlife; Sled dog health
- Dr. Jayne Ellis & Dr. Kimberlee Beckmen - Wildlife pathology
- Dr. Tuula Hollmen & Dr. Emmanuelle Furst - 黑料社appSeaLife Center
Application Instructions
- Complete the online application (button below)
- Submit 2 Reference Letters
- Character Reference: One reference should provide a letter attesting to your motivation, independence, reliability, and other character attributes.
- Research Mentor Reference: The second reference should be provided by the faculty mentor who has agreed to support your research program. This letter should contain a short (1-2 page) description of the research you will undertake as part of the summer program, willingness to provide mentorship, and assurances that the mentor can provide the financial support needed, such as travel and research supplies.
Letters should be sent directly from your character reference and research mentor to Dr. Marianne Lian at mlian@alaska.edu
