Student Research Projects
Veterinary Science students who succeed in securing one of these projects will have the opportunity to access and interrogate authentic data, helping to build analytical, research and clinical skills and knowledge. Each project will focus on aspects of a particular breed, and will contribute to, or result in, a peer-reviewed publication.
Available Projects
Students planning research projects as part of their DVM, BVSc or Honours programs are invited to engage with this exciting nationwide project. Using veterinary clinical data from VetCompass Australia, the studies will characterise different factors of individual breeds of dogs, cats or horses under veterinary care in Australia. At certain times, a further set of projects will be offered to determine the most common breeds for each species.
It is expected that research will be collated from the different streams of enquiry into a single report for submission to a journal. The projects dealing with the numbers of each breed will also be prepared for publication. Publications will benefit the students, universities, vets in practices, and the broader community.
Expectations
Students
- code the data guided by a standard questionnaire
- report on findings
- work under supervision, within the bounds of the degree being completed
- have the option to work individually or in teams
Schools
- provide a supervisor and statistician
- provide an academic champion to oversee and coordinate student work for publication (particularly important for bringing the three streams together)
- invite members of the VetCompass Australia consortium who have contributed to the planning or delivery of a manuscript to be co-authors
VetCompass Australia
- provides access to a steady stream of authentic data
- coordinates of all aspects of the data collection, storage and management
- conducts HREC administration
- provides technical and project support for students and their supervisors
Current Breeds
Each university has the opportunity to select breeds annually. The current distribution of breeds is as follows:
Title of Project |
University |
| Abyssinian | University of Melbourne |
| Alaskan malamute | University of Sydney |
| American Staffordshire terrier | University of Melbourne |
| Australian cattle dog | Murdoch University |
| Australian kelpie | Murdoch University |
| Australian stockhorse | Charles Sturt University |
| Beagle | University of Queensland |
| Bengal | Murdoch University |
| Bernese mountain dog | Charles Sturt University |
| Bichon frise | University of Melbourne |
| Birman | University of Melbourne |
| Border collie | Murdoch University |
| Boxer | James Cook University |
| British bulldog | University of Sydney |
| British shorthair | University of Melbourne |
| Bull Terrier | Charles Sturt University |
| Bullmastiff | University of Sydney |
| Burmese | University of Sydney |
| Cairn terrier | University of Melbourne |
| Cavalier King Charles spaniel | University of Sydney |
| Chihuahua | University of Melbourne |
| Clydesdale Horse | Charles Sturt University |
| Cocker spaniel | University of Adelaide |
| Corgi | University of Queensland |
| Cornish rex | University of Adelaide |
| Dachshund | University of Sydney |
| Dalmatian | University of Adelaide |
| Devon rex | Charles Sturt University |
| Dobermann | Charles Sturt University |
| English springer spaniel | University of Sydney |
| Fox terrier | University of Sydney |
| French bulldog | University of Sydney |
| German shepherd | University of Queensland |
| German short-haired pointer | Murdoch University |
| Golden retriever | James Cook University |
| Great Dane | University of Sydney |
| Greyhound | James Cook University |
| Hungarian Vizsla | University of Adelaide |
| Jack russell terrier | University of Adelaide |
| Labrador retriever | University of Melbourne |
| Lhasa apso | University of Queensland |
| Maltese | Charles Sturt University |
| Maremma sheepdog | Charles Sturt University |
| Neapolitan mastiff | James Cook University |
| Paint Horse | Charles Sturt University |
| Persian | University of Queensland |
| Pomeranian | University of Adelaide |
| Poodle | University of Melbourne |
| Pug | University of Sydney |
| Quarterhorse | University of Adelaide |
| Ragdoll | University of Adelaide |
| Rhodesian ridgeback | Murdoch University |
| Rottweiler | University of Sydney |
| Russian blue | University of Sydney |
| Schnauzer | University of Queensland |
| Shar pei | University of Melbourne |
| Shetland pony | University of Queensland |
| Shetland sheepdog | University of Adelaide |
| Shih Tzu | University of Melbourne |
| Siamese | Murdoch University |
| Siberian husky | University of Queensland |
| Staffordshire bull terrier | University of Melbourne |
| Standardbred | Murdoch University |
| Tenterfield terrier | Charles Sturt University |
| Thoroughbred | University of Queensland |
| Tibetan spaniel | University of Adelaide |
| Tonkinese | Murdoch University |
| Weimaraner | University of Queensland |
| Welsh pony and cob C&D | Murdoch University |
| West highland white terrier | University of Sydney |
| Whippet | University of Adelaide |
Strategic Research Projects
Find out more about the Strategic Research Projects.
Major Research Projects
Find out more about Major Research Projects.
