The Morris Animal Foundation provides research funding and student stipends to support discoveries that improve the health and welfare of animals. Its opportunities include grants for established researchers, early-career investigators, pilot studies, fellowship training and veterinary students.
The Foundation accepts applications from researchers and research teams around the world, subject to the eligibility conditions for each funding opportunity. Its current application calendar includes an open Veterinary Student Scholar opportunity closing on 25 November 2026
Based on the Foundation's published Veterinary Student Scholar guidelines, applicants must:
Be currently enrolled in an accredited veterinary medicine programme and remain enrolled throughout the research project. The programme does not have to be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
Be in good academic standing throughout the project.
Have a qualified research mentor who can guide the proposed project.
Be selected or supported by their institution for submission.
Propose research that advances the health or welfare of dogs, cats, horses or wildlife.
Applicants enrolled in a combined DVM/PhD programme are not eligible under the published guidelines. Students who have previously received a Veterinary Student Scholar stipend are also ineligible.
Institutional nomination limit: Each institution may submit up to two student applications for a round. Confirm with your institution that you have been selected before submitting
Fellowship Training Eligibility
According to the Foundation's grant FAQs, Fellowship Training applicants must either:
1. Hold a veterinary degree, such as a DVM, or a PhD; or
2. Be enrolled in a PhD programme and have completed the first two years of that programme by the expected research start date.
Additional conditions include:
- Awardees must devote at least 75% of their time to the research project.
- Clinical residents and applicants with clinical service responsibilities exceeding 25% of their time are ineligible.
- Applicants holding a PhD must have earned it within four years of the grant application date.
- Applicants who earned their PhD more than four years earlier, and other candidates already in permanent salaried positions, are not eligible for a Morris Animal Foundation Fellowship. They may wish to apply for a non-fellowship grant under the First Award mechanism.
- A proposed project cannot be submitted simultaneously under another Morris Animal Foundation grant mechanism.
Benefits
a stipend of up to US$5,500
Covers living expenses during a research project lasting typically three to four months.
Eligible Courses
Projects must advance scientific knowledge of:Canine health and welfare.Feline health and welfare.Equid health and welfare.Wildlife health and welfare.Research primarily focused on human health or agricultural production-animal health falls outside the Foundation's mission and will not be accepted.
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How to Apply
1All grant applications must be submitted through the Foundation's SmartSimple grants management system.
2Visit the Morris Animal Foundation application page.
3Review the grant calendar and identify the funding opportunity relevant to your research or student status.
4Open the applicable Request for Proposals (RFP) guidelines.
5Download the latest application documents, templates and scoring criteria from SmartSimple. These materials are generally posted about two weeks before an RFP opens.
6Create a SmartSimple account or log in to an existing account.
7Complete the application using the instructions for your chosen grant category.
8Submit your application before the relevant deadline.
9New applicants should allow time for account registration and validation. For the Veterinary Student Scholar programme, applicants must also confirm their institution's selection before submitting.
