2025 Graduate Award Winner

The Boehringer Ingelheim Graduate Award

The Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians reinforces our mission to promote research in veterinary medicine/biomedical sciences and reward those students who have excelled in their graduate or residency program. The award recognizes graduate veterinarians that have completed or will soon complete a PhD program or are in their final 1 to 2 years of completing residency training in the field of veterinary medicine.

The 2026 award recipient will receive $2,500 cash, be recognized at the 2026 Veterinary Scholars Symposium and if applicable will receive a travel stipend to present their work at the Symposium.

2025 Graduate Award Winner

The Boehringer Ingelheim Graduate Award

The Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians reinforces our mission to promote research in veterinary medicine/biomedical sciences and reward those students who have excelled in their graduate or residency program. The award recognizes graduate veterinarians that have completed or will soon complete a PhD program or are in their final 1 to 2 years of completing residency training in the field of veterinary medicine.

The 2026 award recipient will receive $2,500 cash, be recognized at the 2026 Veterinary Scholars Symposium and if applicable will receive a travel stipend to present their work at the Symposium.

Grad 25 Melissa Leonard

2025 Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians

Melissa Leonard, DVM, DACVP is a PhD candidate in Immunology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Following time spent in clinical practice as a veterinarian, Melissa was inspired to pursue a career in veterinary pathology and biomedical research due to a strong interest in understanding disease pathogenesis and mechanisms. Melissa received the 2025 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians for her current research focused on examining the molecular mechanisms underlying T cell migration and effector function during influenza infection. The goal of her research is to promote the development of new therapeutics that benefit both human and animal health. 

Learn more about Melissa's research

2025 Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians

Melissa Leonard, DVM, DACVP is a PhD candidate in Immunology at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Following time spent in clinical practice as a veterinarian, Melissa was inspired to pursue a career in veterinary pathology and biomedical research due to a strong interest in understanding disease pathogenesis and mechanisms. Melissa received the 2025 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians for her current research focused on examining the molecular mechanisms underlying T cell migration and effector function during influenza infection. The goal of her research is to promote the development of new therapeutics that benefit both human and animal health. 

Learn more about Melissa's research
Grad 25 Melissa Leonard
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Application Requirements:

(1) Cover letter

(2) Curriculum vitae

(3) Your highest quality scientific manuscript or detailed written description of research in journal format. Only one manuscript will be accepted.  

(4) Two letters of recommendation in support of submission

Please submit applications electronically. Applications must be received by December 30, 2025.

Hard copy submissions will not be accepted. Application requirements should be combined into one PDF.

 

2026 Boehringer Ingelheim Research Award for Graduate Veterinarians 

Award Criteria:

The applicant has received a doctorate degree in veterinary medicine (including a DVM degree from overseas).

The applicant has completed or will soon complete a PhD program or are in their final 1 to 2 years of residency training in the field of veterinary medicine in the US and Canada.

The applicant will attend in person or virtually the Veterinary Scholars Symposium in 2026 and present their work in the form of a video.

Apply Today