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Expanding Horizons Applicants

Timetable for Summer Projects

  • October 17, 2024: Student Information Session (Power Point) 
  • September 27, 2024: Call for Proposals for CD Period
  • November 22, 2024: Proposals due for CD Period
  • December 15, 2024: Notification of awards for CD Period
  • October 21, 2024: Call for proposals for Summer 2025
  • February 21, 2025: Proposals due for Summer 2025
  • March 7, 2025: Notification of awards
  • May, 2025: Grantees (Summer 2025) registered in VTMED 6748: Expanding Horizons Canvas Course
  • August 20, 2025: Submission of final report (for Summer 2025 participants)

Committee

  • Dr. Martin Gilbert
  • Dr. Jarra Jagne
  • Dr. Paul Maza
  • Dr. Daryl Nydam
  • Dr. Steve Osofsky
  • Dr. Ton Schat
  • Dr. Jai Sweet
  • Dr. Caroline Yancey (Chair)

FAQs

Who is eligible?

  • Cornell veterinary students are eligible to participate in the Expanding Horizons Program any time during their four years, but given the curriculum demands and the academic calendar, most students participate in the program during the summer of the first or second year
  • Must be registered students; students on leave for any reason are not eligible to apply. If registration status changes due to academic or personal reasons after a proposal has been funded, students would not be permitted to use these funds for travel.

What can I do?

  • Pursue an independent project related to veterinary medicine in a foreign country
  • The proposed project may be experiential or scientific (research)

Where can I go?

How long is a typical experience?

  • First and second year students are expected to devote 8-10 weeks in the summer to their experience
  • Fourth year students may utilize their clinical blocks to pursue a 6 week experience.
  • Third year students may also be able to pursue an Expanding Horizons project during the C/D period for distribution credit. Please contact the Registrar’s office to see if this is a feasible option for you.

Can I get academic credit for my experience?

  • Yes, via the course VTMED 6748 Expanding Horizons
    • You will be able to obtain up to 4 elective credits for the experience. 
    • You will be enrolled in a Canvas course to complete weekly virtual assignments.
    • Course grading is Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U)
  •  If you participate in the Expanding Horizons Program during your clinical training, and if the experience is clinically-oriented (ie: not research), you may be eligible to apply for Opportunity Block credit. This allows students to obtain credit that contributes towards Set VI Elective Clinical Rotations. Students can earn a maximum of 2 credits per two-week block (Opportunity Block -VETMED 6605 - up to 6 credits total)

Grant Proposal Guidelines

General Format

  1. Name and DVM Class
  2. Project Title
  3. Purpose
  4. Project Objective or Hypothesis
  5. Methods or Strategy
  6. Approvals: Assess if the project requires IACUC or IRB approval, CITES permit, or any local/regional/national permits
    1. If any approvals or permits are required, the status of the process and documentation must be included in the grant application
    2. The CVM Clinical Trials Coordinator can work with you to develop a Client Consent Form if you plan to conduct research from samples or surveys collected from client-owned animals
  7. Feasibility, Expected outcomes and difficulties (pitfalls)
  8. Professional Impact and Development
  9. References (citations from literature review)
  10. Itemized Budget
  11. Budget Justification
  12. Supporting Materials (must include Letter of Invitation/Support from host)
  13. CV

Evaluation Criteria 

Purpose (3 points)

  • Why is the project being pursued? How is the project relevant to clinical practice, public health, international veterinary medicine or wildlife conservation?

Methods, training and feasibility (3 points)

  • How feasible is the project, given the proposed approach, time frame, knowledge of primary language(s) in the region, etc.
  • If any permits are required for the import/export or reagents, materials, or samples, please provide information that demonstrates that permits can be obtained in time to complete the work.

Professional Impact and development (3 points)

  •  What is the connection between the proposed project and professional growth? Will it provide an intellectual and cultural growth experience?

Commitment and Engagement (3 points)

  •  Is there a demonstrated effort in identifying and developing project?

Budget (no points)

  • Is the budget clear, appropriate for the opportunity and country, and within the guidelines of the grant?
  • Does the justification provide a detailed description and evidence for each budgeted category?
  • If the project expenses exceed the grant limit, how will the deficit be met?

Safety (no points)

  • Safety risks (if present) should be acknowledged (these include risks involved in travel and transport, regional risks, hazardous reagents, potentially dangerous techniques or other workplace hazards), and mitigation measures noted. If, after registering the travel, the University ITART (International Travel Advisory and Response Team) deems the  travel location to be unsafe per the US State Department guidelines, then you will not be able to receive funding to go to that location. 
    • If this transpires, you will be given the opportunity to devise a new project in a different location.
  • Elevated Risk Destinations are listed here.
  • Any COVID-19 travel guidelines must be observed. Keep in mind that different countries may have different requirements for entry and quarantine.

Sample Proposals of Past Projects 

Trap-Vaccinate-Neuter-Return (TVNR) program in the Republic of Georgia: Clinical Experience and Survey of Local Communities on Humane Dog Population Management

Investigation of microcystins in free-ranging poultry around Lake Victoria, Kenya and their potential health implications in the context of Newcastle Disease Virus