Veterinary Clinical and Life Sciences

Interim Department Head: Ralph Meyer

Location: Veterinary Science and Biology Building (VSB) 229

Phone: (435) 797-1762

FAX: (435) 797-2118

E-mail: ralph.meyer@usu.edu

Website: https://vetmed.usu.edu

Faculty and Staff Directory: https://vetmed.usu.edu/directory/index.

Degrees offered: Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences

Graduate Programs Coordinator

Location: VSB 229

Phone: (435) 797-1762

Email

The VCLS department, as part of the College of Veterinary Medicine, offers a graduate program that confers the degrees Master of Biomedical Sciences and Doctor of Biomedical Sciences. The degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is conferred by the College of Veterinary Medicine, not the VCLS department. Students in the MS and PhD programs will primarily engage in exciting research of biomedical nature, which deals with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human and animal health. Guided by mentors, students in the program work on research projects that include clinical investigation, basic research and development, and other related activities to prepare them for a career as Medical Scientists. Graduates in Biomedical Sciences have a wide variety of employment options in industry and academia. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical scientists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations in the U.S. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/medical-scientists.htm#TB_inline?height=325&width=325&inlineId=qf-outlook).

Admission requirements

Prior to applying, the potential applicant must have a VCLS faculty member agree to allow them into their laboratory and be their major (supervisory) professor. Applications are processed when we receive them and are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

General Requirements

All prospective graduate students must apply through the School of Graduate Studies and comply with requirements set forth by the USU School of Graduate Studies , as well as https://gradschool.usu.edu/admissions/policies).

Criteria for Admission

Documents required include the following:
Completed Application for Admission Form including a statement of interest (https://gradschool.usu.edu/apply/).
Official transcripts of all college and university course work of the applicant.
At least 3 letters of recommendation.
International applicants must also submit:
- International applicants from non-English speaking countries must provide evidence of a minimum score of 213 on the computer-based TOEFL examination or 79 on the internet-based test, a score of 6 or higher on the IELTS or 53 on the PTE. Applicants who fail to achieve a passible score are required to take the English Language Placement Test as given by the Intensive English Language Institute at USU. The results of the test place applicants into 1 of 3 categories; (1) full-time study of English (Intensive English Program), (2) a combination of English language study and academic study, or (3) full-time academic studies. Full-time category requires a score of 6.0. See SGS requirements at: (https://gradschool.usu.edu/apply/)
- Financial certification and a financial guarantee statement.

Desired standards of performance and background for acceptance as a matriculated graduate student:

A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), with primary consideration on the last 60 semester credits of the most recent degree program and the quality of the program.
Three letters of recommendation.
The applicant for a graduate program in the CVM should have completed a BS undergraduate program that includes the following science courses and their prerequisites or equivalent courses: BIOL 1610 - Biology I and BIOL 1620 - Biology II (BLS) or their equivalents; basic courses in inorganic and organic chemistry (such as CHEM 1210 - Principles of Chemistry I , CHEM 1215 - Chemical Principles Laboratory I , CHEM 1220 - Principles of Chemistry II (BPS) and CHEM 1225 - Chemical Principles Laboratory II or their equivalents; MATH 1050 or STAT 2000 (Statistical Methods) or their equivalents.
Applicants with deficiencies in these areas may be admitted to a graduate program of study subject to the completion of remedial coursework specified by the GPC and the Department Head. Other preparatory courses may be specified by the student’s Supervisory Committee. The student must receive a grade B or higher in each of these courses. Remedial courses cannot be listed as credit courses required for the student’s Program of Study. Additionally, a nontraditional graduate student (has received a Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in a field other than Biology or Animal, Dairy or Veterinary Science) with adequate GPA score and recommendations, may be asked to take additional courses. It will be the responsibility of the Supervisory Committee to develop a program of study that will adequately compensate for areas of deficiency. The student must receive a grade of B or higher in each of these courses.
International applicants from non-English speaking countries must meet the English requirement as set by SGS. (https://gradschool.usu.edu/apply/).
Again, before an applicant can be admitted as a matriculated student, a CVM faculty member must agree to serve as his/her Major Professor. The Major Professor must be a member of the Graduate Faculty.

Credit Requirements

BS to MS degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours
BS to PhD degree requires a minimum of 70 credit hours
MS to PhD degree requires a minimum of 42 credit hours
DVM to PhD degree requires a minimum of 42 credit hours

Research

Research in the VCLS Department is cutting-edge, diverse and driven by scientific interests of individual faculty members. Currently, research programs are associated with three main areas:

1. Animal Health and Disease: Basic and translational research addresses infectious and non-infectious diseases that affect companion animals and create an economic burden on large animals in the state and beyond. With the idea of One Health in mind, the well-being of humans is linked with the well-being of animals and the soundness of the environment. Encroachment on wild ecosystems, infectious disease control, public health, food security, and nutrition are facets of interconnected and interdisciplinary research for which veterinary schools are particularly well suited. Dairy cow mastitis and post-parturition ketosis are examples of ongoing research topics in the CVM, as well as pathogenic E. coli research and antiviral research in collaboration with the USU Institute for Antiviral Research (caas.usu.edu/iar/).

2. Reproduction and Theriogenology: Research in this area is focused on genetic and epigenetic aspects of successful gamete maturation, fertilization, and conceptus development as components of major importance to animal production and reproductive health in general. Current projects investigating aspects of reproduction include elucidating the impact of environmental and dietary factors on the genetic integrity of gametes and intergenerational inheritance of epigenetic marks, determining immunological factors involved in successful implantation and sustained pregnancy, and suppression of estrous behavior in mares.

3. Mechanisms of Aging: Molecular mechanisms underlying the aging process are relevant for companion animal health and care, orthopedic and neurological disease, and nutrition and metabolic health. Understanding the impact of the ovarian microenvironment on health disparities in post-reproductive female mammals is one of the current goals. Other current aims include unraveling physiological and metabolic principles underlying the aging process, particularly in reproductive aging, as well as mechanisms of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Financial Assistance

Both departmental and research grant support are available to matriculated graduate students on a competitive basis. The department funds graduate assistantships, which are available on a competitive basis to matriculated graduate students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or residents. Students interested in departmental assistantships should contact Tyler Ayotte (tyler.ayotte@usu.edu).

Acceptance to graduate study in the ADVS Department does not constitute a guarantee of financial assistance.

Faculty - College of Veterinary Medicine