2025 Veterinary Research Scholars

Scholar: Kylie Bitcon, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Kate KuKanich, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)

VRSP Project: Exploring the impact of an early research experience on veterinary career paths

Scholar: Kayleigh Corless, KSU CVM Class of 2027

Mentor: Bob Larson, DVM, PhD, DACT, DACVPM (Epidemiology), ACAN

VRSP Project: Enlarging particle size of the diet will reduce gastrointestinal lesions found at slaughter in feedlot beef cattle

Scholar: Emily Evans, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Jordan Gebhardt, DVM, PhD

VRSP Project: Effect of barn sanitation methods for efficacy of E. coli control in nursery housing facilities

Scholar: Xinyu Fu, KSU CVM Class of 2027

Mentor: Lihua Wang, PhD

VRSP Project: Development of adeno-associated virus-based vaccine against canine distemper in dogs

Scholar: Brittany Hirsch, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Scott Fritz, BA, DVM, DABVT

VRSP Project: Stocking the cattle producer's toolbox on farm guidance for preventing cattle death loss from nitrate poisoning

Scholar: Claire Horton, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Roman Pogranichniy, DVM, MS, PhD

VRSP Project: Seroprevalence of influenza A in ruminant and feline species

Scholar: Jessica Mayer, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Shane Lyon, DVM, MS, DACVIM

VRSP Project: Evaluation of cage layering methods for managing small animal patients

Scholar: Molly Millett, KSU CVM Class of 2027

Mentor: Ron Orchard, DVM, MPH

VRSP Project: Amplifying the voices of the unhoused: Exploring barriers and trust in veterinary care with Photovoice

Scholar: Shelby Noel, KSU CVM Class of 2027

Mentor: Todd Gunderson, DVM, MS, ACVPM

VRSP Project: Assessing variations in sema morphology across the slide

Scholar: Brooke Paisley, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Butch KuKanich, DVM, PhD, DACVCP

VRSP Project: Developing antimicrobial treatments for canine urinary tract infections

Scholar: Lauren Robinson, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Phillip Lancaster, MS, PhD

VRSP Project: The association of gastrointestinal lesions with cattle demographics, performance, and other gross pathology, including liver abscesses and pulmonary lesions, at necropsy in feed yard mortalities

Scholar: Amanda Roth, KSU CVM Class of 2027

Mentor: Brian Herrin, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology)

VRSP Project: Increased diagnostic sensitivity for PCR of taenia-type eggs

Scholar: Kendra Siefker, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: T.G. Nagaraja, BVSc, MVSc, PhD

VRSP Project: Experimental induction of liver abscesses to determine whether Trueperella pyogenes or Salmonella enterica alone cause liver abscesses in cattle

Scholar: Brittany Smith, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Eduarda Bortoluzzi, MV, MS, PhD

VRSP Project: Animal behaviors before and during human visitation at a local zoo

Scholar: Erin Turman, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Stacy McHaney, DVM, DACVR

VRSP Project: Magnetic Resonance Imaging and sequence optimization for evaluation of the thoracic duct in a heterogeneous patient population presenting for spinal disease

Scholar: Regan van den Elsen, KSU CVM Class of 2028

Mentor: Chieko Azuma, DVM, PhD, DACVR (Radiation Oncology)

VRSP Project: Quantification of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in serum collected from dogs with lymphoma in Kansas