is a phd in veterinary science suitable for a biology student?

[biotechlover]

i have been admitted to Phd in veterinary science program with specialization in genetics/parasitology at univ of kentucky. However i am not sure whether a phd in veterinary science is good for some one like me from a regular biology back ground. In this program i will be working in a genetics laboratory on parasite genetics. my worry is once i complete the degree, whether my profile will be typecasted as veterinary or will i be treated the same as a phd in biological science? I am inclined to take this offer as it is fully funded with a research assistantship. could someone please shed some light on this? Thanks in advance.

[Vene]

Is there some way you can see where alumni of the program have gone to after completing their PhD? I think that will tell you how it is viewed.

[katiegud]

I would think you would only take vet med jobs after that program. However, if you want to study parasite genetics, isn't that where you were planning to be? The only way I could see it being viewed more broadly is if you focused on zoonotic parasites and tried to expand into human public health. 

 

(I studied vet med before I turned to public policy, so I knew the grad students in the vet school. They were all planning to continue with veterinary science in some way.)

[biotechlover]

I have tried to find the alumni of the program however couldn't find much info. many of the students studying in the department have some sort of vet background even though you can find a tiny portion of the grad students come from the regular biological sciences area. I want to work in molecular genetics area in the future. would like to go on doing a post doc in this area. however my worry is when i apply for post doc positions will they treat me differently from a phd in biological sciences/genetics/molecular biology etc, saying my degree is Phd vet science.

[Vene]

I'm far from an expert on this, but I don't know a good reason why a genetics department would have a problem with a veterinary science PhD as long as your work is in animal genetics and they want an expert in animal genetics. You'd still publish in various genetics journals and attend genetics conferences, correct?

[ticks_and_stuff]

I'm in a veterinary science program but it's really an umbrella program to microbiology, genetics, veterinary entomology, parasitology, etc etc research. I have haven't encountered anyone having problems with postdocs or other postdoctoral paths because it's called "veterinary". Your research, PI connections, and where you publish/present is what is important (and maybe the classes you take). I think the name of your degree doesn't mean a lot, but more of your experiences and expertise. The positive thing about being connected to a vet school is generally there is a lot of money to go around - I've never had to worry about research funds or lack of equipment.

[ticks_and_stuff]

I would think you would only take vet med jobs after that program. However, if you want to study parasite genetics, isn't that where you were planning to be? The only way I could see it being viewed more broadly is if you focused on zoonotic parasites and tried to expand into human public health. 

 

(I studied vet med before I turned to public policy, so I knew the grad students in the vet school. They were all planning to continue with veterinary science in some way.)

 

This isn't always true. We have many researchers that study animal pathogens that are similar to human pathogens (bovine babesiosis and malaria) because it allows them to work in host and do experiments that wouldn't be possible on humans. In fact there are several PIs that are human disease trained scientists that use animal pathogens as models because of this.