VETERINARY SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM | College of Veterinary Medicine

Application Deadline: Applications for Summer 2026 will be accepted between January 30, 2026 and February 26, 2026.

2026 Program Start and End Dates: May 18th – August 10th

The University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary Summer Scholars Program is an 10-week research program designed to provide veterinary students with training in biomedical research. This program is only open to current veterinary students at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. We are unable to take external applicants at this time.

This 10-week research program spans from late May to mid-August each year. Students will have 10 weeks of research and a research poster symposium to celebrate their work this summer. Summer scholars work on research projects that will enable them to test hypotheses, pursue specific objectives, conduct research, interpret data, and present their research findings. Mentors for the students are highly experienced research faculty with established research programs here at UTCVM.

For Summer 2026, our program has generous support for funding up to 25 students from both the Center of Excellence in Livestock Diseases and Human Health and Boehringer-Ingelheim (as part of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program).

Applicants for the UTCVM Veterinary Summer Scholars Research Program must be a current first or second year veterinary student at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine.

Summer 2026 Projects TBD

Student Application Ranking Form TBD

Frequently Asked Questions Document

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The 2026 Veterinary Summer Scholars Program is an 10 week program beginning May 18th and ending August 9th. Scholars engage in research projects under the mentorship of research faculty. This program is only open to UTCVM veterinary students. Students can begin work no earlier than May 18th, and end their work no later than August 9th. Students will have 10 weeks of research and a final research poster symposium. The poster symposium is scheduled for Friday July 31, 2026 11:30-1:30 in the TLC Concourse.

In addition to your research project, scholars will attend a mandatory weekly seminar series that will cover a range of topics including:

Conducting studies with animals – ethical and regulatory considerations.
Information resources for the clinical and basic sciences.
Effective grantsmanship and the development of hypothesis-driven research.
The essentials of manuscript preparation.
Preparing and presenting scientific data as a presentation or poster.
Training and practice in scientific writing.
A special session hosted by Boehringer-Ingelheim (as part of the Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program) regarding careers in research.

At the end of the summer, ALL scholars will present their research at UTCVM,, July 31, 2025 11:30-1:30. Select students will also present at the National Veterinary Scholar Program Symposium, sponsored by Boehringer-Ingelheim. The Summer 2026 National Veterinary Scholar Program Symposium will be hosted TBD.

Current first and second year veterinary students at the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine are encouraged to apply. If you are matched for a project, you must be in good academic standing when the program starts in late May. If you are not in good academic standing at the end of the spring semester, you forfeit your position in the program.

Each scholar must decide this with their mentor. This is a good question to ask during the mentor selection process. While some of the research projects can be completed in a traditional 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. workday, others involve weekend and evening work. In addition, if a scholar needs to be absent from the project for any reason, this needs to be discussed with their mentor.

Students funded by the COE program are paid $16.25 per hour, not to exceed 40 hours of work per week, and no more than 400 total hours in the program. Each project has a varying workload. Some projects may require full time 40 hours per week, whereas some projects may only require 20 hours per week. This is important to discuss with your potential mentors when looking for a project.

Students funded by Boehringer Ingelheim are expected to work full 40 hour weeks, for a pay rate set by the sponsoring agency. The pay is $6,500 for the summer.

All available research projects will be posted here on January 30, 2026.

Once you find a project that you would like to work on, your next goal is to set up a meeting with that mentor to further discuss the project. You are encouraged to talk with multiple mentors, to get better understanding of what each project entails.

Next, students will fill out the application by clicking here. You will be required to list your potential mentors in preference order. You may list up to 5 mentors. Only list those projects that you are willing to work on. Student applications for Summer 2026 are due February 26, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Faculty mentors will also fill out a ranking form for up to four students in preference order. Mentor “ranking of student” forms for Summer 2026 are due February 26, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Last, the students and mentors will be matched. The student and mentor ranking forms will be processed by Summer Program Co-Directors Dr. Sree Rajeev and Dr. Andi Lear.

Match results will be announced via email on March 9, 2026.

Interested faculty mentors must submit their project proposal by January 19, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Faculty “ranking of student forms” are due February 26, 2026 at 11:59pm.

Match results will be announced via email on March 9, 2026.

Summer 2026 employment can begin on May 18, 2026 and must end by August 9, 2026. Students may not exceed 400 total hours total between those dates.+

Faculty Ranking of Students Form TBD

Mentor Responsibilities Form

Program Contact Information

Dr. Sree Rajeev

Summer Program Co-Director
srajeev@utk.edu

Dr. Andi Lear

Summer Program Co-Director
alear@utk.edu