Fellow: Michelle Greenfield

Mentor: Rodman Getchell

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 

Aquadocs, the podcast I started in 2020, is the number one aquatic medicine podcast and a top 50 lifesciences podcast. My role as producer and host of Aquadocs allows me to routinely reach approximately 300 listeners per episode in over 50 countries (Aquadocs, 2021). With a listenership predominately comprised of veterinary students and early-career veterinarians, we are uniquely positioned to share scientific research with the next generation of aquatic veterinarians.

Producing Aquadocs provides a unique opportunity to walk other students through the process of proposing, writing, and publishing a scientific study in an accessible and digestible manner. In this study, we will provide an accessible example of a veterinary student driven research initiative, which walks the listener through the process from hypothesis to publication. I intend to outline the entirety of the research process over approximately 10 Aquadocs podcast episodes as a tool for students to use as they undertake their own research projects.

My aim is to provide an educational resource for veterinary students conducting scientific research. I hypothesize that most veterinary students, particularly those in developing countries, do not have the tools necessary to undertake their own project or are not aware of many tools that could make their research experience smoother and more streamlined. By documenting my experience evaluating the environmental conditions affecting the health of the Alaskan Stellar sea lion population, I intend to fill that deficit. I will publish the entire process from study design to manuscript submission. This will provide a platform for students to ask questions, receive advice, and communicate openly and freely about the scientific process. My intentions with this project are to unveil every aspect to make it widely accessible to anyone who is interested in learning.