The Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program: Supporting future veterinarians

The Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program (BIVSP) is one of the most prestigious programs to expose students to biomedical research and support future veterinarians. Over the course of more than 30 years, more than 5,000 students from the US, Canada, and Europe participated in the program. We talked to two of the organizers, Dr. Monica Figueiredo (Executive Director of BIVSP) and Dr. Brigitte Boenisch (International Program Director of BIVSP), as well as alumna Dr. Nadège Perier who now also works at Boehringer Ingelheim about their experience with the program and their future plans.

Photo of a big room with many people inside standing around serval poster

Brigitte and Monica, you were at this year’s Symposium that recently took place and met a lot of the students. Tell us, how was it?

Brigitte: It was fantastic. We’ve got overwhelming feedback from the students and their mentors. They were all really grateful for this opportunity and the students were as proud as they can be when they presented their research posters.

Monica: I already got a message from a student asking if she can do the program again. It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come. Dr. Roberto Alva, the former Executive Director of BIVSP who was part of the program right from the beginning, told us that in the first year there were only two universities and six students part of the program. This year, there were more than 600 students, and we had to divide our poster sessions into four slots because it wasn’t possible to fit everyone into one session.

Group photo of the students with their mentors — The 2022 BIVSP attendees from Europe together with Dr. Brigitte Boenisch (third from left, front row) and two of the mentors, Dr. Cornélie Westermann from Utrecht and Dr. Philippe Berny from Lyon (first and second from right, back row)

You also know the other side of it, Nadège. How was that experience for you when you participated in the program at the Ohio State University in 2016?

Nadège: It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. I’m from France, and we don’t have this kind of summer school. As it is a three-month program and since we only have two months of summer break, I had to arrange with my university how to organize my exams, but it was worth it. I liked everything about the program, and I learnt so much, not only about biomedical research but also about our different cultures in France and the US. I also loved working with the other students and the mentors. Overall, I have never seen a program as adequate as this one.

Who is the BIVSP aimed for, what is its mission?

Brigitte: The idea of the program is to interest veterinary students who are in the first or second year of their studies in biomedical research. At this point in time, they have not yet been exposed to the clinical disciplines and we want them to open up their minds to the field of scientific research.

Nadège: The program definitely opened my mind. When I applied, I didn’t think about starting to work in the industry. But then I participated, and I discovered this whole spectrum. I got more familiar with the research and what the animal health industry can offer. The options are almost never-ending, and you can end up in so many positions, such as R&D, Regulatory Affairs, Marketing, or in Technical Services, like I did. The program also opened up so much for me beyond pure research. It helped me add this international dimension to my career and to value diversity in the workplace.

Monica: The program truly represents what we are doing at Boehringer Ingelheim. We believe in science, and we invest in science and future scientists. For example, this year’s keynote speakers were all former participants of the program. BIVSP alumni now work all over the world in different positions, some as veterinarians at the forefront of research, some even with us at Boehringer Ingelheim. The alumni present at the Symposium enjoyed sharing their experiences with the next generation.

Two women standing in front of a poster, one woman is explaining the poster to the other one — One of this year’s participants shows Monica Figueiredo (left) her research findings

The program takes place in the US every year during the summer, with students from the US, Canada, France, Germany, and The Netherlands attending. This year, the BIVSP also partners with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the first time. What are the plans for the future?

Monica: We just started our multi-year partnership with the USDA. The goal is to expose up to 12 students every year from the US schools to rotate in the different labs from the USDA with a focus on emerging pathogens and livestock infection diseases. Having this partnership is an amazing opportunity for the students because these labs are often restricted, and they have the chance to work with leading scientists. Of course, we want to expand this kind of partnership to different areas. One of the next projects for example involves virtual reality. And we would also love to expand the program to other countries, such as Japan, Mexico, or Brazil.

What does this program mean to you personally?

Brigitte: I have been part of the program since 2010, when I was asked to look after the European students. At the beginning there were only French and Dutch students participating; in 2018 we added Germany to the program. It’s so interesting to see the students not only discover the research field but also the way of living in another country. And in August each year, when the results from the summer research training are presented at the Symposium, it is very rewarding to see these students being so proud of their own research projects and to feel the energy and enthusiasm they’ve got. The program really does have an impact. For example, one student from Germany and another one from The Netherlands were already offered future PhD positions at the vet schools where they conducted their research projects.

Monica: I also started as a program director in 2010. And now I had the wonderful opportunity to take over as Executive Director beginning of this year. I love this program. It is one of the main reasons why I work at Boehringer Ingelheim. All the colleagues, and other program directors are truly passionate about the Veterinary Scholars Program. Our focus is and will always be the students. Knowing that the BIVSP summer research training might change the life of a veterinarian student forever fulfils me so much.

Nadège: I remember one of the teachers who presented the program during my first year said: “You are only first-year students, and you might not know much about your future yet, but this could change your life”. In retrospective, it definitely did change my life. Doing this program was like a springboard for my professional career and I will feel forever grateful for this opportunity.

Woman presenting her research paper — Nadège Perier presents her research poster during the BIVSP Symposium in 2016

About the Veterinary Scholars Program

The Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars Program was established more than 30 years ago to introduce veterinary medical students to biomedical research. At each participating school in the US, Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Scholars are assigned a mentor and laboratory. Each scholar conducts a hypothesis-driven research project. The research project is typically conducted over a 10-12-week period during the summer, with students presenting their work at the conclusion. More than 5,000 students have received scholarships from Boehringer Ingelheim to conduct research since the program started. More information: www.veterinaryscholars.boehringer-ingelheim.com.