Record Number of NC State Veterinary Students Engage in Summer Research

The College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Scholars Program, the most vibrant in the nation, was stronger than ever in 2026, with more than 70 students paired with faculty mentors to develop real-world research skills by conducting their own summer projects.

That’s a 36% increase at NC State over 2025.

At NC State this summer, more veterinary students than ever participated in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Scholars Program (VSP), a crucial opportunity for students to push beyond the classroom and clinic walls and dive into the research that is shaping the future of veterinary and human medicine.

An international program, VSP supports participating universities as they pair veterinary students with faculty mentors to tackle their own projects in real research settings.

NC State routinely has the largest number of participants in the United States, and this year 71 veterinary students spent 10 weeks immersed in research — a 36% increase over last year.

The students, who receive a stipend to support them through the program, will present their projects in August at the annual Veterinary Scholars Symposium, hosted this year by NC State.

Grace Detwiler, a rising second-year student, spent three years as a veterinary assistant with the NC Mobile Veterinary Service based in Enfield, North Carolina, before she entered veterinary school.

As a scholars program participant this summer, she researched bovine mastitis — inflammation of the udder — and one of its primary causes, a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus, because mastitis costs the American dairy industry $2 billion each year.

“If you’ve never done research, I 100% think everyone should do it at least once, and this is a great opportunity,” Detwiler said.

“I really appreciated it and took away so much from this experience.

Ten out of ten from me.” She worked on her project under the mentorship of Dr.

The report adds to ongoing university-led research relevant to veterinary medicine, animal health, and clinical decision-making.

university website: NC State College of Veterinary Medicine