Morris Animal Foundation is accepting proposals for its Veterinary Student Scholar Program, which gives veterinary students a stipend of up to US$5,500 to carry out a short, mentored research project on the health of dogs, cats, horses and other equids, or wildlife. The programme is open to students at accredited veterinary schools worldwide; recent cohorts have included students from Nigeria.
Deadline: 25 November 2026 (FY27 Round 2, which opened on 7 October 2026). Many schools set an earlier internal deadline, so check with your faculty now.
Key Details
- Funder: Morris Animal Foundation (USA)
- Award: stipend of up to US$5,500
- For: students enrolled in an accredited veterinary medicine programme (DVM or equivalent)
- Research areas: canine, feline, equid and wildlife health (open topic)
- Round: FY27 Round 2
- Deadline: 25 November 2026
Benefits
- a stipend of up to US$5,500 for your research project
- mentored research experience with a faculty supervisor
- a recognised award from one of the world’s leading animal health research funders
- a strong start for a career in veterinary research or academia
Eligibility
- currently enrolled in an accredited veterinary medicine programme (accreditation doesn’t have to be AVMA)
- in good standing at your veterinary school
- a research project on dogs, cats, equids or wildlife, with a mentor at your institution
Rules reported in earlier rounds: schools may nominate a limited number of students (recently up to two per institution); students in combined DVM/PhD programmes have been excluded in some rounds; MAF does not fund projects that involve euthanasia of animals for research, and has extra rules for projects outside the student’s home country. Check the current guidelines before applying.
How to Apply
- Talk to your veterinary faculty’s research office or a potential mentor; many schools nominate candidates and set an internal deadline.
- Develop a short, focused research proposal with your mentor.
- Create an account on Morris Animal Foundation’s Fluxx grant portal via the Apply for a Grant page (account approval can take up to two business days).
- Submit your proposal before 25 November 2026.
Round dates are from Morris Animal Foundation’s Apply page; stipend and eligibility details are from MAF guidance and Opportunity Desk. MAF’s website blocks automated checks, so confirm the current rules there.
Tips for African Veterinary Students
- Pick a practical, local question, such as rabies in dogs, wildlife disease at the human-animal interface, or equine health in working horses and donkeys.
- Keep the project small enough to finish in a few months.
- Register on the Fluxx portal now; account approval can take two days.
- Ask your mentor to review your budget and methods before submitting.
