Merial-NIH National Veterinary Scholars Symposium

Each summer Merial and the NIH sponsor an international symposium bringing together veterinary students engaged in research through summer programs and combined DVM/PhD degree programs. Usually, over 300 students from about 28 CVMs in the USA and Canada attend the Symposium.

All students participating in the Texas A&M Summer Research Program are strongly encouraged to participate. To date, either the CVM or Merial has paid expenses (travel, registration & room) for all students to attend.

The Symposia are hosted by CVMs on their campus (except in 2007, when Pennsylvania hosted a Symposium on the NIH Campus in Bethesda, MD).

Poster Sessions. All student submit an abstract on their research, then prepare a poster to present at the Symposium. Poster sessions are a chance to meet and interact with students and scientists from other CVMs and with scientists from Merial, the NIH and other institutions.

Scientific Sessions. Scientific presentations, by established and young investigators, present state-of-the-art research on veterinary and biomedical sciences. Many scientists are present for most of the symposium, allowing students an opportunity to meet them.

Banquets. All Symposia have featured outstanding menus, including one informal and one formal banquet. The informal banquet is frequently at interesting locations near the host CVM. The Symposium closes with a more formal banquet, sometimes featuring a local band, with veterinary influences, and dancing. Most of all, students meet other veterinary students and have plenty of time for "unscheduled" fun.

2012 Symposium at Colorado State University