Possibly stupid question Re: Research

[akitavet]

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when everyone says that vet schools are interested in people to do research, do they mean people who do animal research for pharma companies, etc. or do they mean people who research at the universities in veterinary medicine?

 

[dyachei]

when everyone says that vet schools are interested in people to do research, do they mean people who do animal research for pharma companies, etc. or do they mean people who research at the universities in veterinary medicine?

I think it just means research. I know they asked me questions about the research I did with frogs in a cell biology lab I worked at. If you used animals and did any sort of scientific research, they'll be interested (at least thats my impression). it might even mean other research, but I'm not sure. It certainly doesn't need to be for pharmaceutical companies, though that wouldn't hurt, and there are other places that have animal research than just the colleges of vet med.

 

[Serendipity4]

Fwiw, I did research on juvenile cannibalism in Black Widows, and my interviewers seemed VERY interested in that aspect of my application. I don't know one way or the other, but I'm not even certain it has to be with animals of any sort, though it is probably better. I think partly what they want to see is that you have the scientific mind for research, you've been trusted to take part in research, you took the initiative to get involved in research, and you've been exposed to what goes into doing research. Like I said, I'm not certain, but I hope that helps!

 

[texlaevis]

I obviously don't know for sure since I'm not on an admissions committee, but I think they probably like research on your resume for a bunch of reasons. First of all, if you can do research you probably have pretty decent critical thinking skills/problem solving skills, which of course is a great thing on an application. It's also nice because a lot of schools are encouraging their grads to eventually go into research in academia/pharmaceutical ind/public health/conservation/etc and it would show a predisposition for this type of work. I don't think your work has to be with animals for them to be interested-- for a pretty basic example, microbio and mol/cell bio studies could be super pertinent to vet med without the researcher ever laying hands on a critter.

 

[akitavet]

1.) I kinda meant that I hear that vet schools are interested in students who want to pursue research after they are done. What kind of research do they mean?

2.) but thank you for your responses, and on that note, I did an MS and did loads of research during that. Where do I put that in the VMCAS? Should it be listed as an experience category in and of itself even though its through the academic program?

 

[dyachei]

1.) I kinda meant that I hear that vet schools are interested in students who want to pursue research after they are done. What kind of research do they mean?

2.) but thank you for your responses, and on that note, I did an MS and did loads of research during that. Where do I put that in the VMCAS? Should it be listed as an experience category in and of itself even though its through the academic program?

Well, there are plenty of types of research that veterinarians utilize and perform. Of course there's the biomedical research. But from what I understand you can research in several fields like epidemiology, immunology....anything research that is animal-related would probably be something you could pursue after getting your DVM. This is just the impression I've gotten, though from my own research into the profession (no pun intended) and from reading the notes on non-clinical careers from one of the professors.

 

[kate_g]

2.) but thank you for your responses, and on that note, I did an MS and did loads of research during that. Where do I put that in the VMCAS? Should it be listed as an experience category in and of itself even though its through the academic program?

Whatever courses you took for the degree will be listed in the course section, but you should make an entry and talk about your research project in the "veterinary experience" section. (Yes, even if the research was not veterinary (i.e. clinical) in nature, and even if it didn't actually involve live animals. Loads of past threads on classifying experiences where this has been brought up. I drew the line at including my plant biology research as "veterinary" just because it was research, but did include the molecular bio research I did on yeast.)

 

[akitavet]

Whatever courses you took for the degree will be listed in the course section, but you should make an entry and talk about your research project in the "veterinary experience" section. (Yes, even if the research was not veterinary (i.e. clinical) in nature, and even if it didn't actually involve live animals. Loads of past threads on classifying experiences where this has been brought up. I drew the line at including my plant biology research as "veterinary" just because it was research, but did include the molecular bio research I did on yeast.)

Whoa! That would bring my veterinary hours from ~1200 to somewhere in the ballpark of 7000. My research was DNA sequencing and genotyping methods. Although our focus was human, I have to say that I know more dogs that have had DNA markers looked at than people. Do you guys think its applicable enough?

 

[kate_g]

My research was DNA sequencing and genotyping methods. Although our focus was human, I have to say that I know more dogs that have had DNA markers looked at than people. Do you guys think its applicable enough?

Absolutely.

Adcoms understand that basic research is where medicine comes from. If you look at the research profiles of the faculty at any vet school, more of them are involved in basic research than in true clinical research. It's all applicable...

 

[rexosaurus]

Akitavet, I think adcoms are interested in people who do any type of research. Whether it be biomed research for pharma companies, their own research in a university setting, etc. I think the point in their minds is that research furthers medicine and increases the quality of public health for both animals and humans, and that is the common goal.

 

[thelarson]

What about field research with cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises)? I had an internship for two summers on a whale watch boat, recording behavioral and environmental data about wild cetaceans while engaging in public education.

 

[tobevet]

If you include the research experience as "veterinary experience", then
how are you going to answer to the question where it asks if it's hospital or clinic? I was going to change my research experience, then I needed to name the veterinarians and the practice.

 

[kate_g]

If you include the research experience as "veterinary experience", then how are you going to answer to the question where it asks if it's hospital or clinic? I was going to change my research experience, then I needed to name the veterinarians and the practice.

Don't worry, just put in the name of your research facility (university, company name, whatever) and the person with whom you did the research (even if they're a PhD). Unless things have changed a lot since last year, you're just filling in blanks with headings "location" and "supervisor".

 

[tobevet]

Don't worry, just put in the name of your research facility (university, company name, whatever) and the person with whom you did the research (even if they're a PhD. Unless things have changed a lot since last year, you're just filling in blanks with headings "location" and "supervisor".

oh, thanks you~ 🙂

 

[nyanko]

Whatever courses you took for the degree will be listed in the course section, but you should make an entry and talk about your research project in the "veterinary experience" section. (Yes, even if the research was not veterinary (i.e. clinical) in nature, and even if it didn't actually involve live animals. Loads of past threads on classifying experiences where this has been brought up. I drew the line at including my plant biology research as "veterinary" just because it was research, but did include the molecular bio research I did on yeast.)

Wait seriously? My research with Drosophila polyamine transport for which I did an undergrad honors thesis should go in the veterinary experience section? I just put it under extracurriculars or whatever (haven't submitted yet though..)

 

[kate_g]

Wait seriously? My research with Drosophila polyamine transport for which I did an undergrad honors thesis should go in the veterinary experience section? I just put it under extracurriculars or whatever (haven't submitted yet though..)

Heh... Look, I'm not the authoritative expert on this or anything, but my understanding is that yes, it should. Read the VMCAS instructions, please! It says *any* research counts in the veterinary experience section. In fact, in some places on the application I think it's referred to as "veterinary/research experience". As I've mentioned before, I could not bring myself to list my undergrad plant biology research as "veterinary", so I listed it under "employment" I think, or maybe "extracurricular". But I also did research on sodium transport pumps in yeast with an MD/PhD, and I *did* list that under "veterinary".

I think the logic is that basic science research is where medicine comes from, and there are plenty of "veterinarian-scientists" whose *research* is not in the least clinical even though they may also have clinical duties in their teaching hospital.

I wish they'd just add a separate "research" section so I could stop answering this question...

 

[nyanko]

I think the logic is that basic science research is where medicine comes from, and there are plenty of "veterinarian-scientists" whose *research* is not in the least clinical even though they may also have clinical duties in their teaching hospital.

That's what I want to do so it makes sense, I well understand the importance of research. Was just confused as to where to put it. Thanks!

😛