How we develop scientists
Through participation in our research programs, trainees from different backgrounds and with different levels of experience learn to grow as scientists. We use an intentional, evolving approach to help each person progress from their first research experience toward scientific independence and leadership.
Our goal is to help every trainee develop capabilities across four interconnected pillars:
- Scientific thinking: asking meaningful questions, evaluating evidence, and designing rigorous research
- Technical excellence: developing reliable experimental, analytical, and computational skills
- Research management: organizing knowledge, data, time, and projects effectively
- Professional development: communicating, collaborating, mentoring, and preparing for future opportunities
Trainees enter the lab with different experiences, strengths, and goals. Their development is therefore individualized and competency-based rather than determined solely by seniority or time in the lab.
| Stage | Developing identity |
|---|---|
| Explorer | I am curious about science and can see myself participating in it. |
| Apprentice | I can produce reliable work and understand why it matters. |
| Researcher | I can identify important questions and design rigorous ways to answer them. |
| Scientific Leader | I develop people and advance science to contribute to societal challenges. |
These stages describe developing capabilities, not fixed titles. A trainee may be at different stages across different areas of their development.
Global Research Pathways
Some scientific opportunities require expertise, technologies, and research environments beyond our own laboratory. When the right project, mentorship, and resources align, we connect veterinary trainees with external collaborators for focused research experiences that complement their DVM education.
2026 Pilot: Nanobody Research at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology
In summer 2026, DVM student Sarah Martin is undertaking a research placement at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, United Kingdom. Working with Dr. Chris Tate and Dr. Mary Angani, Sarah is gaining hands-on experience in the generation and characterization of camelid nanobides for biomedical and veterinary research.
This pilot builds on the interprovincial DVM summer studentship and our lab's research connections with the LMB. We hope to use what we learn from this experience to create similar opportunities in subsequent years.
Interested in a potential 2027 opportunity? DVM students interested in nanobody research training are invited to contact me (adelaine.leung@usask.ca) to express their interest. Future opportunities will depend on research alignment, host availability, funding, and institutional approval.