For 15 aspiring researchers, the start of summer marked the beginning of an immersive journey in scientific discovery through the Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s 2026 Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program. The respected annual program pairs veterinary students and undergraduate students from Purdue and other universities with faculty mentors, providing hands-on experience in clinical and basic science research while helping to foster the next generation of veterinary and biomedical scientists.
A welcome picnic on Thursday evening, May 28, was held for the program participants at Happy Hollow Park in West Lafayette. Faculty mentors and summer research scholars gathered for an evening of conversation, camaraderie, and traditional Indiana picnic fare before forging ahead with their summer research projects. The event also provided an opportunity for participants to come together for a group photo, celebrating the start of a collaborative and impactful summer.
This year’s cohort includes seven Purdue veterinary students and eight undergraduate students. Five of the undergraduates are from Purdue, while the other three represent Hampton University, Huntington University, and the University of Puerto Rico – Humacao. Together, the veterinary and undergraduate students are being mentored by 17 faculty members from the Departments of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS), Comparative Pathobiology (CPB), and Veterinary Clinical Sciences (VCS), gaining valuable experience in research design, data analysis, and scientific communication.
The 11-week Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program, running from May 26 through August 4, combines independent research with professional development opportunities. Participants attend weekly seminars covering a variety of scientific and career-focused topics and engage in enrichment activities, including a visit to a local pharmaceutical company and a networking event with veterinary scholars from the University of Illinois. There also will be an End of Program Poster Presentation Monday, August 3, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Lynn G119/155. For the DVM students, the summer experience culminates with participation in the Boehringer Ingelheim National Veterinary Scholars Symposium, August 6-8 in Raleigh, North Carolina, where students will have the opportunity to share their research and connect with veterinary scholars from across the country.
The 2026 Purdue Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program is co-directed by Dr. Eli Asem, Professor of Physiology in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, and Dr. Susan Mendrysa, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Programs and Professor of Basic Medical Sciences. This year’s program participants are:
Purdue DVM Students
- Jasmine Aggarwal, DVM Class of 2028
- Emma DeSantis, DVM Class of 2029
- Julie Zhi-Ying Li, DVM Class of 2028
- Megyn McCoy, DVM Class of 2029
- Azure Patterson, DVM Class of 2028
- Nicholas Vedo, DVM Class of 2028
- Zoey Moore, DVM Class of 2029
Undergraduate Students
- Teegan Acres, Huntington University
- Katrina Mason, Hampton University
- Quyhn Lam Nguyen, Purdue University
- Vianca Rios Brito, University of Puerto Rico – Humacao
- Thanya Thotakura, Purdue University
- Xander Tuttle, Purdue University
- Cheyenne Waddell, Purdue University
- Kotoe Jodie Yoshitomi, Purdue University
Faculty Mentors (including co-mentors)
- Pradip Bajgain, Assistant Professor of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS)
- Wendy Beauvais, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health (CPB)
- Ahmed Hassan, Research Assistant Professor, (CPB)
- Harm HogenEsch, Distinguished Professor of Immunopathology (CPB)
- Sun Young Kim, Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery (VCS)
- Adam Kimbrough, Assistant Professor of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS)
- Debbie Knapp, Distinguished Professor of Comparative Oncology (VCS)
- Tim Lescun, Head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Professor of Large Animal Surgery (VCS), and Emma Stapley (co-mentor), Graduate Student (VCS)
- Dianne Little, Associate Professor of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS)
- Leanne Nieforth, Assistant Professor, Human Animal Bond (CPB)
- Shin Ae Park, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology (VCS)
- Andrea Pires dos Santos, Associate Professor of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (CPB)
- Luis dos Santos, Assistant Professor of Cardiology (VCS), and Kevin Hannon (co-mentor), Associate Professor of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS)
- Michelle Tucker, Assistant Professor of Large Animal Surgery (VCS)
- Michael Wendt, Department Head and Professor, Basic Medical Sciences (BMS)
