Pre-Veterinary Internship & Research Fellowship

The Pre-Vet Fellowship seeks to provide funding for UM undergraduate students on the pre-veterinary track in pursuing experiential learning opportunities to enrich their academic & professional development. Selected students will be provided with a stipend of up to $7,000 to pursue experiential learning opportunities within the broad veterinary medical field for 5-10 weeks during the summer.

Examples of experiential learning considered for funding include: research, fieldwork, practicums, service learning and clinical internships. The stipend can cover food, lodging, transportation, and other incidental expenses. P-VIRF will be administered by the College of Arts & Sciences through its "Beyond the Books" Program.

• Currently enrolled and a full-time degree-seeking UM undergraduate with preference given to students in the College of Arts and Sciences 
• Returning the fall semester after this summer internship  
• In good standing with the university, with a minimum 3.0 GPA, and cannot be under any judicial sanctions.  
• Have an open file with the Office of Pre-Health Advising and Mentoring

Examples of experiential learning that are eligible for funding include:

• Animal Experience – any activity that allows the participant to gain hands-on experience working with animals. (This does not include personal family pets)
  • 4-H animal projects 
  • Livestock farms 
  • Humane societies  
  • Zoos 
  • Kennel work  
  • Racetracks
  • Aquariums 
• Veterinary Clinical Experience – activities or tasks supervised by a veterinarian 
• Research Experience – animal and veterinary research as well as other fields and/or laboratory-based research.  

Fellowship requirements include:  

• Located in the United States 
• Five to ten-week full-time position averaging 40 hours each week.
  • Pro-rated levels of funding will be available for part-time experience.
• Organization provides mentorship from a subject expert in a related field. 
  • Organizations owned or run by a member of the applicant's immediate family will not be considered

Funding is limited to support expenses related directly to the student’s fellowship such as lodging, transportation, food, travel, and other incidentals.

At the end of the experience, students will submit a 3-5 page essay reflecting on their fellowship. Students are advised to document their experience including dates, time spent, types of activities, and who supervised the project. There should be a self-assessment of accomplishments and how they aligned with the goals of the project. What were the lessons learned? If some of the proposed activities did not go as expected that should be reported as well. If appropriate, submit ancillary materials such as videos and photos.

 *Essay should address the following questions:

• How does the Pre-Vet Fellowship align with your career goals? 
• How will this fellowship connect with your educational experience at UM?
• What are three goals or objectives you wish to accomplish during your fellowship?

P - VIRF Application Itemized Budget Template