Where did your 'Research Semester Away' take place?
Lanier: “North Carolina State or NCSU; though the majority of my time was spent at a satellite facility: the Southern Pines Equine Health Center. This was dictated by the nature of the project, not by the Research Semester Away program in general. Also at this facility there was a podiatry project in addition to the ‘repro’ project that I was involved in. Most of the other projects were on the NCSU main campus.”
When was your 'Research Semester Away'? Which semester were you in?
Lanier: “The summer of 2007. I started at Ross University in January and, at the end of my first semester, I left to begin the project. I’m back now in my second semester (September 2007)."
How was this arranged?
Lanier: “I received a campus wide email telling of the program and I went to the web site. I scrolled through the projects scheduled for that summer and I was particularly interested in the equine repro one; so I applied for it. I figured that if I were able to get it, I’d be willing to take a semester off to pursue the opportunity. Actually, I was allowed to apply for two different projects but chose only to apply for the one that was most relevant to me.”
What were some of your personal accomplishments during your 'Research Semester Away'?
Lanier: “I got clinical and diagnostic skills that are in my area of interest, which is Equine Repro. Specifically, I got plenty of practice with palpations, with venipuncture and with keeping records on mares. My job for the project was to monitor follicular dynamics in mares receiving different types of prostaglandin F2a therapy. Follicle monitoring is an important clinical skill that I got plenty of practice with as well; much more even than most new grads.”
What motivated you to choose this research institution? Why?
Lanier: “My interest in the project. I saw the opportunity, I applied for it, and I got it. It was pretty simple. I happen to be from North Carolina, but that was just coincidental.”
What is your overall impression of your experience?
Lanier: “I’m glad that I did it. I gained a lot from the experience but also had to sacrifice some too. Was it worth it? I can’t really go back and compare how it would have been if I’d not gone, or if I had done it another way. As far as getting experience in my specific area of interest in veterinary medicine, I feel as though I now have been given a boost. I was paid for my work, so I had money left over at the end of the summer which was great! I hate to use the words, ‘This looks good on my résumé, but it is a meaningful experience and says something about you to a potential employer. If I go into an internship situation right out of school, or if I go to graduate school, this will be a ‘feather in my hat’ so to speak.”
Would you recommend this research institution to other students wanting to do a 'Research Semester Away'?
Lanier: “Sure. My project is in equine research, so that’s why in went in that direction. There are other projects though. There was a parasite load project in foxes of North America, a project dealing with the coral off the coast of North Carolina, an investigation on equine podiatry, an investigation in the area of anesthetics in cats and an investigation on heart problems in dogs. Projects dealing with dairy, swine, you name it. It’s not just a horse project; you can find a project in whatever your area of interest is.”
Anything you’d like to add in regard to this experience, Brian?
Lanier: “It’s something you can do in addition to just meeting the minimum requirements for your DVM; something you can do besides just going through the system and coming out the other end with a legal licensure to practice medicine. I’d recommend the Research Semester Away experience.”
Click here for an abstract of Brian Lanier's research project.