Research Training Opportunities

Students, graduate students, combined degree students (VMD-PhD), postdoctoral fellows and residents have a range of research opportunities available to them in basic, translational and clinical research at Penn Vet.

In addition to the programs of research of each faculty member, trainees may participate in weekly journal clubs, attend seminars of visiting scholars and present their own work at annual conferences on campus.

This section will expand on the National Institutes of Health program in collaboration with Merck, opportunities provided by Penn’s Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs Office, Penn Vet’s combined-degree program, graduate groups in the Biomedical Graduate Studies, training grant opportunities and clinical research programs and fellowships. 

Penn Vet has a unique training asset at the campus at the University of Pennsylvania, housing research laboratories, state-of-the-art vivaria and a small-animal hospital, with large-animal facilities are located at New Bolton Center in Chester County, PA.

Expand Your Range of Research Skills

If you are interested in engaging in groundbreaking research in addition to pursuing your VMD, or if you are an intern, resident, or post-doctoral student interested in expanding your current scope of capabilities, Penn Vet offers a unique combination of opportunities:

Penn VMD-PhD Program

• Welcome to the VMD-PhD Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. The goal of the VMD-PhD Progam is to train outstanding veterinarian-scientists who will make outstanding contributions to their field by advancing science and medicine. The VMD-PhD Program has been in existence since 1969 and has gone through considerable expansion over the past decade.
  • Learn more about the Penn VMD-PhD program.

NIH/Merial Veterinary Scholars & Other Program

• The NIH/Merial Summer Research Program is designed to expose students in their first or second year of veterinary school to all phases of biomedical research. This includes the development of research ideas, the preparation of research proposals, the performance of biomedical research, and the presentation of research results in written and oral formats. Students in the program perform full time biomedical research during the months of June, July, and August, participate in weekly seminars, and present their work in oral, poster, and written presentations. Students also attend the National Merial Scholars Symposium. The program provides a rich experience in biomedical research for students and simultaneously exposes them to a wide variety of research topics through seminars. Students also benefit from close association with University faculty.
• Learn more about the NIH/Merial Summer Research Program.

Biomed Post-Doc Programs

• The University of Pennsylvania has long been recognized for its belief in the importance of education and its pursuit of excellence. The office of Biomedical Postdoctoral Programs (BPP) works to uphold this tradition by providing biomedical postdocs in the Perelman School of Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, School of Nursing, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Monell Chemical Senses Center and The Wistar Institute with the highest quality training in and outside of the labs.
  • Learn more about post-doctoral programs offered through Penn's Perelman School of Medicine.

Graduate Groups At Penn

• Learn about graduate programs and graduate opportunities at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • Visit Penn's Biomedical Graduate Studies website.