Purdue and Illinois Veterinary Summer Research Scholars Connect at Lynn Hall

Participants in the 13th Annual Joint Symposium of Purdue University and University of Illinois Veterinary Scholars gathered for a group photo in the Veterinary Medical Library during the one day event June 25.
Participants in the 13th Annual Joint Symposium of Purdue University and University of Illinois Veterinary Scholars gathered for a group photo in the Veterinary Medical Library during the one day event June 25.

Veterinary students from Purdue University and the University of Illinois who opted to dedicate their summer to gaining hands-on experience in scientific discovery convened at Lynn Hall recently for an intense one day symposium. The 13th Annual Joint Symposium of Purdue University and University of Illinois Veterinary Scholars was held at Lynn Hall June 25.

“The aim of the symposium was to provide an opportunity for the students in the two summer research programs to get to know each other, and to learn about the contents and preparation of a scientific abstract,” explained Dr. Eli Asem, professor of physiology in Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Basic Medical Sciences and co-director of the Purdue Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program.

Each year, the venue for the Purdue-Illinois Veterinary Scholars Symposium alternates between the two universities. Highlights of this year’s symposium at Lynn Hall included:

  • Opportunities for each student to give a brief description of their research project;
  • Presentation on the contents of a scientific abstract by Dr. Susan Mendrysa, associate dean for research and graduate programs and co-director of the Purdue Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program;
  • Group exercise in abstract writing;
  • Keynote scientific presentation by Dr. Deborah Knapp, director of the Evan and Sue Ann Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center and Distinguished Professor of Comparative Oncology;
  • Tour of the Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex

The Purdue and University of Illinois students also gathered in the Veterinary Medical Library for a group photo, joined by Drs. Asem and Mendrysa.

The Purdue Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program wraps up with the annual Poster Presentation Monday, August 4. Held in Lynn G119/155, the session will be open to faculty, staff and students.

A total of ten Purdue veterinary students are participating in the Purdue Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program, along with one international veterinary student from France and eight undergraduate students, five of whom are Purdue students. For the DVM students, the program will conclude with a trip to the Boehringer Ingelheim National Veterinary Scholars Symposium, which will be held August 7-9 in Spokane, Washington.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

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