2025 Veterinary Research Scholars

Group photo of the VRSP scholars with the addition of two dogs lying on the floor.

Scholar: Kylie Bitcon, KSU CVM Class of 2028Headshot of Kylie Bitcon

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 2027Headshot of Kayleigh Corless

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 2028Headshot of Emily Evans

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 2027Headshot of Xinyu Fu

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 2028Headshot of Brittany Hirsch

Mentor: Scott Fritz, PhD, 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 2028Headshot of Claire Horton

Mentor: Roman Pogranichniy, DVM, MS, PhD

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

 


Scholar: Jessica Mayer, KSU CVM Class of 2028Headshot of Jess Mayer

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 2027Headshot of Molly Millett

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 2027Headshot of Shelby Noel

Mentor: Todd Gunderson, DVM, MS, ACVPM

VRSP Project: Assessing variations in sema morphology across the slide.

 

 

Scholar: Brooke Paisley, KSU CVM Class of 2028Headshot of Brooke Paisley

Mentor: Butch KuKanich, DVM, PhD, DACVCP

VRSP Project: Developing antimicrobial treatments for canine urinary tract infections.

 


Scholar: Lauren Robinson, KSU CVM Class of 2028Headshot of Lauren Robinson

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 2027Headshot of Amanda Roth

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 2028Headshot of Kendra Siefker

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 2028Headshot of Brittany Smith

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 2028Headshot of Erin Turman

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 2028van den Elsen

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