Occasionally, faculty in the School of Veterinary Medicine have research projects that accept undergraduate students to work as assistants and/or volunteers.
The list below includes SVM faculty who have expressed willingness to take undergraduate students into their laboratories and allow them to gain first-hand experience in a working research lab.
Bethany Cummings, DVM, PhD
Department of Molecular Biosciences
Lillian Cruz-Orengo, PhD
Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Cell Biology
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a devastating disease and the second leading cause of neurologic deficits in young adults, characterized by the pathological trafficking of autoreactive-leukocytes into the central nervous system (CNS). Specifically, my research focuses on sexual dimorphism of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) microvasculature as a relevant contributor to MS neuropathogenesis with the purpose of developing sex-specific therapeutic targets. This study relies on the mouse model for MS called Experimental Autoimmune Encephalitis or EAE. Additionally, we are working on developing a model to assess BBB disruption resulting from environmental exposure using zebrafish.
Please contact Dr. Cruz-Orengo for more information: cruzorengo@ucdavis.edu
Pouya Dini, DVM, PhD, DACT
Department of Population Health and Reproduction
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (VetART) Laboratory in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is a nationally recognized research and service facility. In addition to in‑vitro embryo production (IVP) service for breeders and veterinarians, the laboratory conducts fundamental and translational research on gamete biology, equine placental pathophysiology, and embryo–maternal communication using endometrial organoid models. Current projects focus on optimizing IVP protocols in horses and ruminants and elucidating the mechanisms of placental morphogenesis.
Motivated undergraduate students are welcomed and receive hands‑on training in IVF and embryo manipulation, cell culture, and a range of molecular biology techniques.
Don't hesitate to get in touch with the lab @ icsivet@ucdavis.edu for more information.
Adrien Dupanloup, DVM, DACVIM
Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences
Undergraduate students interested in veterinary neurosurgery can contact Dr. Dupanloup at amdupanloup@ucdavis.edu with a copy of their CV. Ongoing projects integrate brain MRI, electroencephalography, and clinical research to investigate neurological disorders.
Carrie Finno, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
Department of Population Health & Reproduction
Dr. Finno investigates the molecular basis for genetic diseases in the horse and other companion animals. One of the strong translational focuses of Dr. Finno's laboratory is to investigate the role of vitamin E in neurodegeneration using a well-established mouse model and a naturally-occurring model of neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) in the horse. Dr. Finno's research is funded by the NIH, Grayson Jockey Club Foundation, the American Quarter Horse Association and the Center for Equine Health at UC Davis.
Current projects for undergraduates: (1) Perform qRT-PCR on genes of interest in spinal cord samples from Ttpa-null mice maintained on vitamin E deficient diets (2) Validate a potential biomarker in cerebrospinal fluid from NAD-affected horses (3) Perform genome-wide association studies for equine neuromuscular diseases. These research projects will provide students with training in molecular techniques and provide insight into mechanisms of neurodegeneration.
Please contact the Finno lab manager, Valerie Asmus, for more information: vasmusj@ucdavis.edu.
Amir Kol, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology
Dr. Kol’s research program focuses on comparative stem cell biology for regenerative medicine and disease modeling, leveraging mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and adult stem cell-derived organoids. The lab investigates immune modulation, tissue repair, and disease mechanisms using naturally occurring diseases in companion animals as translational models for human disease. Current projects include using MSCs to restore immune function in chronic viral infections and iPSCs to model cardiac and neurologic diseases in dogs. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in cell culture, immunology, molecular biology, microscopy, and other translational biomedical research techniques.
No prerequisites are required, though prior lab experience is advantageous. Interested students should contact Dr. Amir Kol at akol@ucdavis.edu with a brief introduction and resume.
Gregory Lanzaro, PhD
Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology
The Vector Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at UC Davis is dedicated to research and training in the areas of population & molecular genetics, genomics and bioinformatics of insect vectors of human and animal disease. We have developed a program aimed at expanding knowledge that may be applied to improving control of disease vectors and that also addresses problems of interest in the field of evolutionary genetics. We are currently engaged in a range of projects, but our major research focus is on vectors of malaria in Africa. The laboratory is directed by Gregory Lanzaro, a professor in the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Anton Cornel, a professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology.
The VGL has a history of hosting well qualified undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a career in biological/biomedical research. The lab offers students the opportunity of gaining experience working in an active research laboratory, to participate as author on papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and most importantly to gain hands-on experience working with cutting edge methods in molecular biology. We are committed to providing qualified undergraduates students an excellent research experience and we expect a similarly high level of commitment from our students. We host interest seminars in May for students interested in participating the next academic year.
For more information visit the Vector Genetics Laboratory Undergraduate Research Program
Pamela Lein, PhD
Department of Molecular Biosciences
Dr. Lein is Professor of Neurotoxicology, Director of the CounterACT Center of Excellence, and Director of the NIEHS T32 graduate training program in environmental health Sciences. She has been a full-time faculty member of the School of Veterinary Medicine since 2009. Dr. Lein’s research interests are neurotoxicology, neuropharmacology and neuroimmunology.
Usually, undergraduates work about 10 hours a week and start by working on an existing project. This way, volunteers can be become accustomed to all aspects of conducting research, from general lab maintenance (which is critical for successful research!) to designing an experiment to collecting/analyzing data for a poster or paper. Before contacting us, be sure to think about what kind of research excites you, both on a day-to-day basis (e.g. staining a brain section, collecting images on a microscope, or running a behavioral assay on zebrafish) and on a long-term basis (e.g. identifying new therapeutic approaches for protecting the brain from toxic agents, figuring out how the brain works). If you think our lab may be a good fit for you, contact Dr. Pam Lein. Include a copy of your resume/CV and a cover letter explaining why you want to work in our lab and why you would be a good fit. Undergraduates must be able to volunteer for a minimum of 3 quarters, or one full school year.
Contact Dr. Lein at pjlein@ucdavis.edu for more information!
Heidi Reesink, VMD, PhD, DACVS
Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences
Dr. Reesink’s lab investigates the diagnosis and treatment of orthopedic diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA), tendon injury, and fracture, in horses and other companion animals. The laboratory is currently working to identify shared biomarkers and develop new therapeutic targets for the treatment of post-traumatic osteoarthritis in horses, dogs, and humans.
Current projects for undergraduates include: (1) Perform western/lectin blots and plate-based assays on plasma and joint fluid samples from patients with naturally occurring osteoarthritis and (2) isolate RNA and perform qRT-PCR on genes of interest from synovial membrane and cartilage biopsies treated with OA therapies in vitro. These research projects will provide students with training in biochemistry and molecular biology techniques while identifying potential biomarkers and evaluating the efficacy of new therapies for joint disease.
Priority will be given to students who can commit to working for three or more consecutive quarters.
Please contact Dr. Reesink (hreesink@ucdavis.edu) or Alice Wong (awong@ucdavis.edu) for more information.
Sara Thomasy, DVM, PHD, DACVO
Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences
The Comparative Ophthalmology & Vision Science Laboratory (COVSL, https://covsl.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/) led by Drs. Sara Thomasy and Brian Leonard provide a rich environment in the conduction of vision science research for undergraduates with opportunities to perform genetic, benchtop and translational studies in animal models including mice, dogs, nonhuman primates and horses. To learn more about these opportunities, please email smthomasy@ucdavis.edu and provide your CV, briefly discuss prior research experience as well as what studies you would be most interested to participate in.