FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellowship Program

Deadline Date: February 26, 2025

 Donor Name: Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research

 Grant Size: $10,000 to $100,000

The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research is requesting applications for its Veterinary Student Research Fellowship Program to provide support for veterinary students to gain experience in the areas of research, preparing them for a variety of important careers in science and public service.

Areas of Research 

• The FFAR Vet Fellows program will support both quantitative and qualitative student research, including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Advancing animal (i.e., livestock/production animals) welfare. 
  • Advanced technologies including gene-editing, precision breeding and microbiome/metagenomics in food production.
  • Agricultural and environmental economics, socioeconomics, spatial analysis and computational modeling.
  • Antimicrobial stewardship (must have a food and agriculture interface).
  • Environmental sustainability of agriculture.
  • Nutritional security and food access.
  • One Health (FFAR & AAVMC recognize One Health as “a holistic, ecosystem-based approach to human, animal and environmental health”).
  • Veterinary occupational, health and safety and environmental (OHSE). Zoonosis, injuries, trauma and psychological risks associated with handling and/or working with animals. 
  • Zoonotic diseases and pandemic prevention (must have a food and agriculture interface).

Program Specifications

• The Fellowships will provide stipend support for up to 15 students for one year to perform research with a qualified mentor and to participate in the Veterinary Scholars Symposium (VSS). Research may be performed at any time within one year of the receipt of award; it is anticipated that most students will complete their project during the summer months. Participation in the VSS, either the year of or the year following receipt of the award, is required.
• Research need not be performed at the mentor’s institution. All research must be conducted in accordance with the research compliance requirements (e.g., Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval) of the mentor’s institution and the institution where the research is conducted if it is conducted off-site. If human subjects are involved, the student should be trained in culturally appropriate methods to reach the target population, and the mentor must have IRB approval for the project.
• Students may be requested to participate in a roundtable discussion with other students organized by FFAR and conducted virtually or at the VSS. All students must complete an AAVMC survey on their experience at the conclusion of the Fellowship.

Funding Information

• A total of up to $16,000 USD will be provided to each selected student. Funds may be allocated according to the individual needs of the student, but a general breakdown is as follows:
  • Student Stipend: $10,000 – $12,000 USD
  • VSS Conference Costs (lodging, registration, travel expenses) and Research Support Costs (lab supplies and equipment): $4,000 – $6,000 USD

Eligibility Criteria

• The program is open to domestic and international students currently enrolled in a DVM or VMD degree program conducting research with a qualified mentor at an AAVMC member institution. Students enrolled in or who have completed an advanced research or non-research degree such as an MS, MPH or graduate certificate are eligible for consideration. However, priority will be given to students with no previous research experience.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Students currently enrolled in or who have completed a PhD are not eligible for consideration. This includes students currently enrolled in dual degree/combined PhD programs.

For more information, visit FFAR.