RCVS Fellowship Day 2017
The RCVS kindly invited 25 vet students to attend the Fellowship day, among them were 6 4th year Liverpool students who all found the day very inspirational.
We would like to give a huge congratulations to Professor Debra Archer and Dr Jo Dukes McEwan on receiving their RCVS Fellowship by Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice.
We would like to give a huge congratulations to Professor Debra Archer and Dr Jo Dukes McEwan on receiving their RCVS Fellowship by Meritorious Contributions to Clinical Practice.
Summer Studentship 2017- Our experience
"An investigation into the effects of Bradykinin on contractility in the Pregnant Uterus" by Katy Peat (4th Year)
Funded by: The Wellcome Trust / Veterinary Institute
How you found out about the project?
I first found there were summer projects available to vet students through an email that was sent out to our year. There were a list of projects that students could apply for; I think the One Health Initiative is a fantastic idea so working at the Liverpool Women’s hospital on both human and animal tissue to investigate preterm births really caught my eye. https://www.harris-wellbeingptbcentre.co.uk/research/
Where were you based and what did you learn?
I was based at The Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Centre at the Liverpool Women's Hospital. I learnt that bradykinin effects contractility in the pregnant uterus! - something which very little work has been carried out on. Hopefully the data I have gathered will be investigated further and used by the lab to develop our understanding of why women go into labour early with the potential of further developing drugs to either induce or delay labour.
Did you enjoy it and would you recommend it?
I really enjoyed my time working at The Women’s; I learnt a lot and the people at the centre were very helpful and gave good guidance. Importantly they all work as a team- It’s uter-us not uter-I!
I would recommend applying for a summer studentship to anybody who wants to know more about research. It provides you with the opportunity to consider a career in this area by experiencing what it is like to work in a research environment and developing your practical lab skills. Plus, it looks great on your CV and you can count 6 weeks as funded EMS!
“Effect of exercise on the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein composition of rat tendons and ligaments" by Eleanor Allchorne (4th year)
Funded by: Wellcome Trust & Veterinary Institute.
How you found out about the project?
I found out about the project through an email from the university which mentioned the studentships and possible projects to apply for. The title of my project jumped out at me particular as I always had a particular interest in musculoskeletal biology, especially when combined with sports and exercise being an avid gym goer myself! I had always considered research as a possible career option further to fully qualifying as a vet, but had so little experience in the field it seemed the perfect opportunity to get stuck in and see what was involved. I was incredibly surprised and excited when I was told I would receive funding for this as I was aware funding was competitive.
Where were you based and what did you learn?
I was based in the William Henry Ducan building on the Liverpool campus. 8 weeks flew past, I was able to learn so many new techniques - we really fit a lot in to the short timescale! After lots of frustration regarding dodgy western blots finally my luck changed in the last week when I was able to validate that exercise induced an increase in the protein actin in exercised rat ACL, this was exciting as this was something never discovered before.
Did you enjoy it and would you recommend it?
I would definitely recommend applying for the studentship if you are interested in research, I never imagined I'd learn as much as I did. The million dollar question- am I going to go into research? I'm still not sure... as I always change my mind what I want to do! Although I feel I have a much greater understanding of what is involved now and it was really good fun.
“Imported rescue dogs: reasons, methods and welfare" by Charlotte Norman (4th year)
Funded by: Animal Welfare Foundation.
How you found out about the project?
Between my 1st and 2nd year, I helped on a research project based at Leahurst and got to know my current supervisor. We chatted about possible areas for new research and popular trends. After choosing to do something else for my 3rd year project, my superior approached me and suggested I do a summer project. I jumped at the chance of 6 weeks CEMS and a full 8 weeks of pay! I applied for funding from the AWF and thankfully they agreed to fund the project, including an 8 week stipend, conference fees and publication fees.
Where were you based and what did you learn?
I was based at Leahurst alongside several other students who were also doing summer projects. I was the primary investigator and having done an extended literature review in 3rd year, I had a lot to learn. I designed the questionnaire, cleaned and analysed the data and am still in the process of writing the results. I have learnt how long research takes!
Did you enjoy it and would you recommend it?
I really enjoyed doing the project and am very exited to present the results. I am would recommend a summer studentship to anyone as you learn so much, not only the research but communication and presenting, you also meet lots of staff and students, have a set summer income and its great to have on your CV!
Funded by: The Wellcome Trust / Veterinary Institute
How you found out about the project?
I first found there were summer projects available to vet students through an email that was sent out to our year. There were a list of projects that students could apply for; I think the One Health Initiative is a fantastic idea so working at the Liverpool Women’s hospital on both human and animal tissue to investigate preterm births really caught my eye. https://www.harris-wellbeingptbcentre.co.uk/research/
Where were you based and what did you learn?
I was based at The Harris-Wellbeing Preterm Birth Centre at the Liverpool Women's Hospital. I learnt that bradykinin effects contractility in the pregnant uterus! - something which very little work has been carried out on. Hopefully the data I have gathered will be investigated further and used by the lab to develop our understanding of why women go into labour early with the potential of further developing drugs to either induce or delay labour.
Did you enjoy it and would you recommend it?
I really enjoyed my time working at The Women’s; I learnt a lot and the people at the centre were very helpful and gave good guidance. Importantly they all work as a team- It’s uter-us not uter-I!
I would recommend applying for a summer studentship to anybody who wants to know more about research. It provides you with the opportunity to consider a career in this area by experiencing what it is like to work in a research environment and developing your practical lab skills. Plus, it looks great on your CV and you can count 6 weeks as funded EMS!
“Effect of exercise on the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein composition of rat tendons and ligaments" by Eleanor Allchorne (4th year)
Funded by: Wellcome Trust & Veterinary Institute.
How you found out about the project?
I found out about the project through an email from the university which mentioned the studentships and possible projects to apply for. The title of my project jumped out at me particular as I always had a particular interest in musculoskeletal biology, especially when combined with sports and exercise being an avid gym goer myself! I had always considered research as a possible career option further to fully qualifying as a vet, but had so little experience in the field it seemed the perfect opportunity to get stuck in and see what was involved. I was incredibly surprised and excited when I was told I would receive funding for this as I was aware funding was competitive.
Where were you based and what did you learn?
I was based in the William Henry Ducan building on the Liverpool campus. 8 weeks flew past, I was able to learn so many new techniques - we really fit a lot in to the short timescale! After lots of frustration regarding dodgy western blots finally my luck changed in the last week when I was able to validate that exercise induced an increase in the protein actin in exercised rat ACL, this was exciting as this was something never discovered before.
Did you enjoy it and would you recommend it?
I would definitely recommend applying for the studentship if you are interested in research, I never imagined I'd learn as much as I did. The million dollar question- am I going to go into research? I'm still not sure... as I always change my mind what I want to do! Although I feel I have a much greater understanding of what is involved now and it was really good fun.
“Imported rescue dogs: reasons, methods and welfare" by Charlotte Norman (4th year)
Funded by: Animal Welfare Foundation.
How you found out about the project?
Between my 1st and 2nd year, I helped on a research project based at Leahurst and got to know my current supervisor. We chatted about possible areas for new research and popular trends. After choosing to do something else for my 3rd year project, my superior approached me and suggested I do a summer project. I jumped at the chance of 6 weeks CEMS and a full 8 weeks of pay! I applied for funding from the AWF and thankfully they agreed to fund the project, including an 8 week stipend, conference fees and publication fees.
Where were you based and what did you learn?
I was based at Leahurst alongside several other students who were also doing summer projects. I was the primary investigator and having done an extended literature review in 3rd year, I had a lot to learn. I designed the questionnaire, cleaned and analysed the data and am still in the process of writing the results. I have learnt how long research takes!
Did you enjoy it and would you recommend it?
I really enjoyed doing the project and am very exited to present the results. I am would recommend a summer studentship to anyone as you learn so much, not only the research but communication and presenting, you also meet lots of staff and students, have a set summer income and its great to have on your CV!
Harriet returns to 4th year after Intercalating at the RVC & Sri Lanka!
We asked Harriet about her experiences with Intercalation and here is what she said "I am returning to start my 4th year in Liverpool after intercalating for a year. I had heard about the opportunity to intercalate before starting vet school and it had always interested me. When I started 3rd year I began reading about courses available to intercalating students, I had some experience with vets’ roles in public health and was interested to explore this more. I also learnt about the University of Liverpool Veterinary School Clinical Veterinary Research Training Bursary that is available to intercalating students and thought I’d go for it!
I was very fortunate to be awarded the bursary and gain a place on the One Health Master of Science course at the Royal Veterinary College and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. It was a great opportunity for me to have a break from vet school, study somewhere different and learn about One Health approaches to combating zoonotic disease and other global issues. We had fascinating lectures from experts across so many fields. As part of the Masters I also spent three months living in Sri Lanka carrying out a research project!
Although it has been hard seeing my friends continuing on to final year ahead of me, I still get to see them and I know plenty of people in the year I am joining. Overall it has been a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering intercalating!"
Congratulations Harriet and welcome back to Liverpool!!
Third year student receives 'Inspiration Award'
Harriet Davenport won the Undergraduate Student Inspiration Award, worth £5000, from the Kennel club charitable trust. Harriet will use this money to fund a summer studentship looking into how papillomaviruses can cause oral tumours in dogs, with a focus on canine throat cancer.
Congratulations Harriet, we look forward to your results!
Congratulations Harriet, we look forward to your results!
Sir Ian McKellen visits campus to discus LGBT Issued with LUVS LGBT+ Society
Left to Right: Mat Hennessy, Sir Ian McKellen, Joe Simon.
Joe Simon, a third year vet student who started the LUVS LGBT+ society, invited Sir Ian Mckellen to the university to talk about LGBT issues. The event was a huge success with an audience of over 300 students.
Sir Ian Mckellen spoke about the hardships he faced as a gay man and he praised organisations such as LUVS LGBT+ society and the British Vets LGBT society. Mat Hennessy, president of the British Vets LGBT+ also spoke about the issues of the LGBT+ people within the veterinary community.
The event also raises £780 from the audience for the Michael Causer Foundation, a Liverpool charity, hoping to support the LGBT+ community throughout the city.
Moral of this event- You don't get if you don't ask!
Well done Joe Simon for making this happen!!
Sir Ian Mckellen spoke about the hardships he faced as a gay man and he praised organisations such as LUVS LGBT+ society and the British Vets LGBT society. Mat Hennessy, president of the British Vets LGBT+ also spoke about the issues of the LGBT+ people within the veterinary community.
The event also raises £780 from the audience for the Michael Causer Foundation, a Liverpool charity, hoping to support the LGBT+ community throughout the city.
Moral of this event- You don't get if you don't ask!
Well done Joe Simon for making this happen!!
LUVS volunteer as teachers for the day!
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This February, we were asked by a local school teacher in Neston if there were any LUVS students who would be interested in going to their school and talking to their Year 1 and 2 children about the basics needs of animals and how to look after them. We were thrilled at the opportunity and six 4th year students volunteered for the job; Ellie Richardson, Beth Dixon, Zoe Morphew, Nicole Whittell, Becky Sedman and myself, Katie Burden. Each of us had our own 'topic' to teach and the children rotated round in each practical session. These included: match the baby to the mummy animal, what do you call a mummy and a daddy animal, how to care for injured wildlife such as hedgehogs and chicks, how to handle and feed small furries, what animals are endangered and what products come from which farm animals. The day was a great success with lots of fun had by teachers, pupils and vet students alike. We think its a brilliant initiative to start childrens education on animals early in schools and it's something our dedicated 'EdVet' team are working on to ensure people of all ages know exactly what us vets are here for!
Picture below are our lovely volunteers with their teaching props! |
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