Robert MacVicar, president of Oregon State University from 1970 to 1984, and his wife, Clarice, had a strong interest in the health and welfare of animals. As a result, they established a fund to support research at OSU that impacts animal health and welfare in its broadest sense, that is interdisciplinary in its approach and represented by the areas of microbiology, biochemistry, and veterinary medicine. The award will be made as a $6,500 stipend, with an additional $1,000 for research supplies and/or travel. Also, the awardee will present the Robert and Clarice MacVicar Animal Health Lecture at the end of the award year.

For more information about the MacVicars, check out:

Nomination process

The scholar will be a senior graduate student whose research is primarily concerned with animal health and welfare in its broadest sense and is interdisciplinary in approach, or a veterinarian in a residency program at OSU that includes research at the masters or doctoral level as part of the training program. The selection criteria will be: (a) quality of the research, (b) impact on animal health, (c) interdisciplinary strength, and (d) academic standing.

Nominations of candidates should be made by faculty through their department chairs/heads and sent electronically, to:

• Amy Timshel, (Amy.Timshel@oregonstate.edu)
  for nominees through the Dept of Microbiology
• Beth Chamblin (Beth.Chamblin@oregonstate.edu)
  for nominees through the College of Veterinary Medicine
• Tony Reyna (Tony.Reyna@oregonstate.edu)
  for nominees through the Dept of Biochemistry & Biophysics.

Multiple nominations may be submitted from each department. The nomination deadline is TBD for 2023.

The application must be submitted as a single PDF file containing, in order:

1. Nomination letter
2. Curriculum vitae of the nominee
3. Statement of Research (up to two pages) prepared by the nominee describing research objectives and preliminary progress. The statement must clearly emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of the research, and explicitly describe how the research will impact animal health and welfare.
4. Two supporting letters of recommendation.

Drs. Kate Scollan (Veterinary Medicine), Elisar J. Barbara (Biochemistry and Biophysics) and Stephen Giovonnoni (Microbiology) are currently serving as members of the selection committee for the Robert and Clarice MacVicar Animal Health Fund Scholar. The committee will make its recommendation to the Provost, and the successful candidate will be notified by the Provost before the end of fall term.

During the following spring term, a reception for the recipient will be held, and the Awardee will present the Robert and Clarice MacVicar Animal Health Lecture.

List of past recipients

2021-2022

• Claire Couch, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Mentored by Anna Jolles

2020-2021

• Ben Americus, Microbiology, Mentored by Jerri Bartholomew

2018-2019

• Claire Couch, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Mentored by Anna Jolles

2017-2018

• Nathan Jespersen, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Mentored by Elisar Barbar

2016-2017

• Elizabeth Collar, DVM, Veterinary Medicine, Mentored by Katja Duesterdieck-Zellmer

2015-2016

• Heather Broughton, DVM, Zoology, Mentored by Katja Duesterdieck-Zellmer

2014-2015

• Timothy Putman, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Mentored by Dan Rockey

2013-2014

• Dr. Barbara Hunter, DVM, Veterinary Science, Mentored by Katja Duesterdieck-Zellmer

2012-2013

• Dr. Marc Kinsley, DVM, Veterinary Science, Mentored by Stacy A. Semvolos

2011-2012

• Stephanie Gervasi, Veterinary Science, Mentored by Andy Blaustein

2010-2011

• Brianna Beechler, Environmental Sciences, Mentored by Anna Jolles

2008-2009

• Shannon Reed, Veterinary Science, Mentored by Michael Huber

2005-2006

• Chelsea Byrd, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Mentored by Dennis Hruby