A trainee standing at a podium in front of a slide projected on a screen.

CMSTP Trainees

Our mission is to prepare students with DVM-PhD degrees to become exceptional veterinarian-scientists engaged in mechanistic and translational research to advance the health of people, animals, and the environment.

 

Five people standing outside near trees.
Co-Director, Dr. Sara Thomasy, with CMSTP trainees Drs. Jalika Joyner, Demi Vasilatis, and Jefferson Breitenbeucher, and CMSTP coordinator, Ms. Monica Motta, at the DVM-PhD Dual Degree Welcome Dinner.

 

The career outcomes of our trainees is a testament to the success of our program. 

 

To date, > 30 veterinarians have completed the CMSTP program with a Ph.D and gone on to leadership careers in academia, at government agencies, and in industry. Since 2006, 90% of our CMSTP graduates are using their research training to advance their careers.  Based on the program’s historical data, we anticipate that the vast majority of our most recent graduates will seek a career as veterinarian-scientists in academia, biomedical research, and government service.

 

CMSTP trainees pie chart

Since 2006, 90% of the 34 CMSTP trainees use their research training; 9 are in doctoral training, 5 are in additional training and 20 in all work places.

 

"Being a fellow provided me with the opportunity to be fully involved in my research in Uganda by being able to travel there multiple times. This really allowed me to further build my relationships with collaborators and made the research experience unique and engaging. I could also travel to the workshops that ultimately propelled my research much further than what I could have on my own and attend conferences that gave me more confidence and practice in presenting my research."  -Jalika Joyner

 

Three photos: lab technician in PPE, blue clinic sign, person adjusting a lamp

 


Current Trainees

 


Kim Jacobsen

Soto Lab

 

 

Katarzyna Malin

 

Scarlett Varney


Scarlett Varney

Bannasch Lab

 

Smiling woman in white coat, portrait photo with warm wood background

Notable Alumni

 

Dr. Molly Church

Dr. Molly Church, Associate Professor of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

 

Dr. Denise Imai

Dr. Denise Imai-Leonard, Director of Comparative Pathogens Laboratory, Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor of Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis

 

Dr. Jennifer Johns

Dr. Jennifer Johns, Associate Professor of Veterinary Pathology, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University

 

Dr. Jennifer Luff

Dr. Jennifer Luff, Associate Professor, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University

 

Dr. Fauna Smith

Dr. Fauna Smith, Assistant Professor of Population Health & Reproduction & Assistant Agronomist, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis

 

Dr. Natalia Arzi

Dr. Natalia Vapniarsky-Arzi, Associate Professor of Pathology, Immunology & Microbiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis

 

Dr. Jose-Vilches-Moure

Dr. Jose Vilches-Moure, Associate Professor of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University

 

Erin Ball

Dr. Erin Ball, Chief of Comparative Pathology at the United States Army Medical Directorate Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences in Bangkok, Thailand

 

Kasen Riemersma

Dr. Kasen Riemersma, Senior Reserach Scientist II, Promega