RVC student secures place on prestigious Cornell Veterinary Leadership Program
28 May 2012
A student from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has secured a place to study at America's top vet school this summer.
Following a competitive written application process Lauren Hamstead is one of only four UK students to be accepted onto the prestigious Veterinary Leadership Program at Cornell University, the top ranked veterinary school in the US.
Lauren will spend 10 weeks at Cornell University from the 4th June, undertaking a supervised research project whilst also attending workshops and seminars to develop leadership skills and knowledge of career opportunities. She is planning to focus her research project in the area of reproductive biology, supervised by Cornell lecturer Dr Scott Coonrod.
The leadership program aims to provide undergraduate veterinary students with practical research experience designed to improve the skills needed for a career in research rather than in clinical practice. After completing her BVetMed at the College Lauren plans to study for a PhD to allow her to build a career in academia.
Lauren said of the opportunity: "While I have been at the RVC I have had some really good opportunities to do research projects, this has made me more interested in a career in biomedical research than in clinical practice. The leadership program is an excellent opportunity to get some more experience and develop other skills to help achieve this."
To support her during the 10-week program Lauren will receive a fellowship from the Wellcome Trust.
Professor Jonathan Elliott, vice-principal for research and innovation at the RVC said: "We are extremely proud that Lauren has been able to secure this great opportunity to support her future research career. The competition for places for overseas students on the program is extremely high and it is a testament to Lauren's hard work and commitment to her studies that she is one of only four UK students to be going to Cornell this summer."
Lauren is studying on the combined BSc/BVetMed course at the RVC and will rejoin the course for her 3rd year in September.
Update 16 October 2012
Read Lauren's report on the Leadership Program.
Notes for editors
- The Royal Veterinary College is the UK's first and largest veterinary school and a constituent College of the University of London. In the recent Research Assessment Exercise the RVC ranked as England’s best school in the Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science unit of assessment, for institutions whose research is exclusively veterinary related, with 55% of its submitted academics viewed as producing ’world class’ and ’internationally excellent’ research. The College provides support for veterinary and related professions through its three referral hospitals, diagnostic services and continuing professional development courses. www.rvc.ac.uk
- The Leadership Program for Veterinary Students at Cornell University is a unique summer research experience for veterinary students who seek to broadly influence the veterinary profession through a science-based career. www.vet.cornell.edu/oge/leadership/
Further Information
To request further information or an interview please contact:
- Hannah Murray on 01727 737997
email: hannah@communicationsmanagement.co.uk - Phil Smith on 01727 850761
email: phil@communicationsmanagement.co.uk
The Royal Veterinary College
Established in 1791, the RVC is the UK’s longest-standing veterinary college—with a proud heritage of innovation in veterinary science, clinical practice and education.