Why now?
- Pests affect livestock across the U.S. and lead to poor animal health, welfare, and production. The westward spread of Bovine Theilerioses into Bovine Anaplasmosis endemic areas and the constant threat of Cattle fever in southern Texas is a reminder of that.
- Similarly, the screwworm, eradicated from the U.S. almost 40 years ago, is again migrating northward and may soon threaten to re-invade. If it does, losses to animal agriculture would be over $500 million annually.
- There is a documented shortage of veterinary entomologists, exacerbated by the lack of training of veterinarians and similar animal scientists in entomology.
- There is a critical need to train individuals to develop entomological skills (identification, surveillance, and management) for these biosecurity pest and pathogen complexes that impact livestock industries.
What will the program do?
- Provide an 8-week summer residential REEU each year for eight scholars. Each scholar will be provided a stipend, housing, and partial relocation expenses.
- Provide all scholars the opportunity to attend a professional conference (Livestock Insect Workers Conference) to network with other veterinary entomologists and learn about professional schools and career opportunities and share results through a virtual Expo to stakeholders.
- All scholars will develop their professional abilities including communication skills, leadership approaches, and team science.
- Scholars will be organized into teams of two at each of the four participating universities (eight scholars total).
- University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN
- University of Georgia in Athens, GA
- Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS
- Texas A&M University in Stephenville, TX
Scholar Expectations
Collaborative Team Science. As a larger REEVES team of 8Scholars, host mentors, and others; Scholars will work together to develop and deliver:
- Research-focused output: research contributions to a larger team project repeated at each institution
- Research-focused output: One presentation of proposals to give at the Livestock Insect Workers Conference Proposals
- Extension-focused output: Highlights of the Livestock Insect Workers Conference for a trade journal
University-Specific Work. At their host university, Scholars will work with their university partner and university team to develop and deliver:
- Research-focused output: One presentation of proposals to give at the Livestock Insect Workers Conference Proposals
- Extension-focused output: Factsheet that connects to their individual research project
- Extension-focused output: individual presentation for the REEVES Expo
Individual Work. Individual professional items will be developed by each Scholar and include:
- Updated CV
- LinkedIn Accounts
- Individual 1second videos of their internship
Tentative Calendar
Recruitment and Selection: Applications will be accepted until all spots are filled. We hope to announce our eight scholars in March 2025.
Programming: Official programming will occur for eight weeks (June 1 through July 26, 2025). We plan for the eight weeks of programming to consist of the following:
- Week 1: On-boarding, compliance training, pre-program evaluation, Clifton Strengths Finder, Leadership Training, team surveillance, and develop independent research questions with Extension specific output.
- Weeks 2-4: Larger and individual team meetings and projects, Team Science journal club and the Leadership Executive Seminar Series.
- Week 5: Mid-term program evaluation, prepare for LIWC, Larger and individual team meetings and projects, Team Science journal club, and the Leadership Executive Seminar Series.
- Week 6: Livestock Insect Workers Conference, this will be a longer week as travel to and from the meeting will be needed.
- Week 7: Larger and individual team meetings and projects, Team Science journal club, and the Leadership Executive Seminar Series.
- Week 8: Larger and individual team meetings, wrap up Team and individual projects, Veterinary Entomology Scholar REE Expo with stakeholders, and program evaluation.