As producers grapple with devastating diseases like H5N1 influenza (bird flu), African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease, alongside growing demands for improved animal welfare and sustainable practices, the need for skilled veterinarians to safeguard the nation’s food supply has never been more urgent. However, the United States is experiencing a critical shortage of veterinarians specializing in livestock and poultry, threatening public health, food safety and the economic vitality of agricultural communities.
To support the development of future veterinary researchers, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) established the FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellowship (FFAR Vet Fellows) in 2018. This year, the fellowship features several updates to expand its scope, eligibility and impact. The program is accepting applications for the 2025 cohort.
Veterinary research is critical to solving challenges affecting nutritional security, environmental sustainability and public health. However, most fellowships available to veterinary students are limited to traditional biomedical research, with limited opportunity to conduct research outside that scope. To ensure students are aware of the numerous opportunities for veterinarians, FFAR and AAVMC established the FFAR Vet Fellows to support veterinary student research ranging from climate change to pandemic prevention. The fellowship prepares fellows for multi-faceted careers in science and public service. The fellows complete their research with a qualified mentor at an AAVMC member institution and present their findings at the annual Veterinary Scholars Symposium.
Research Topics Supported
The FFAR Vet Fellows program will support both quantitative and qualitative student research including, but not limited, to the following:
- Agricultural economics, socioeconomics, spatial analysis and computational modeling
- Nutritional security and food access
- Environmental sustainability of agriculture
- Advanced technologies including gene-editing, precision breeding and microbiome/metagenomics in food production
- Zoonotic diseases and pandemic prevention (must have a food and agriculture interface)
- Antimicrobial stewardship (must have a food and agriculture interface)
- Livestock/production animal welfare (NEW)
- One Health (NEW)
- Veterinary occupational health and safety (NEW)
Student Eligibility & Award Funds
The fellowship is providing up to 15 students a total of $16,000 — a $6,000 increase from last year. It is open to domestic and international students currently enrolled in a DVM or VMD degree program. New this year, students enrolled in or who have completed an advanced research or non-research degree, such as an MS, MPH or graduate certificate are eligible to apply. Students do not need to have prior research experience, and matching funds are not required for this program. Students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in agriculture are strongly encouraged to apply.
Each application must include a letter of support from a program director or department chair.
Learn more and apply by February 26, 2025, at https://foundationfar.org/grants-funding/opportunities/2025-ffar-veterinary-student-research-fellowship/
[Source: FFAR 16 January 2025]