Graduate Program
MS or PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Medical Sciences or Artificial Intelligence
Advanced training in Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the MS or PhD level is designed to enhance competitiveness and scholarship. The objective of this program is to provide students with the tools to conduct original research in clinical sciences of small, large, and exotic animals. The faculty of this department is specialized in a wide range of clinical disciplines including surgery, internal medicine, pharmacology, oncology, diagnostic imaging, dermatology, ophthalmology, theriogenology, anesthesia & analgesia and in basic and applied research in comparative orthopedics. Collaborative research with Pathobiological Sciences and Comparative Biological Sciences departments in the School of Veterinary Medicine, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and LSU AgCenter provides latitude in the design of study programs. Overall, our training programs are designed to prepare students for a teaching or research career at an academic institution, in industry or in government.
Criteria for MS and PhD in Veterinary Medical and Biomedical Sciences
Formal internet-based applications to our graduate program are made through the LSU Graduate School.
Applicants must have a DVM (or equivalent) degree or a bachelor’s degree. Applicants for combined residency/MS programs must apply through the Veterinary Intern & Residency Matching Program. Candidates for the combined residency/MS programs must have a DVM or equivalent degree; must have completed a rotating internship or equivalent training; and must submit a letter of intent, transcript of grades from veterinary school, and three letters of reference in accordance with the guidelines listed on the website. To qualify for the combined residency/MS program, applicants must satisfy all criteria for residency training and Graduate School admission.
Applications are accepted at any time but are evaluated only after all supporting documents and credentials (official transcripts, official GRE scores, Graduate School application for admission, application fee) have been received. Application should be initiated at least six months prior to anticipated entry. One of the graduate faculty members of the department must have accepted you as a student in his/her laboratory before admission will be considered.
Unconditional admission to the Graduate School for MS and PhD programs requires that applicants score at least 300 on the GRE (verbal plus quantitative scores) and have an overall grade point average in veterinary or undergraduate school of at least 3.00 on an “A” = 4.0 scale. Foreign nationals from countries where English is not the first language must have a TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based test or 79 on the Internet-based test, have an IELTS score of at least 6.5, or have a PTE score of at least 59 and meet standards of proficiency in English as required by the Graduate School.
Financial Assistance
The salary for combined residency/MS programs is listed on the Veterinary Internship/Residency Matching Program website. Stipends, fellowships, and assistantships from various sources are available on a competitive basis for master and doctoral students not enrolled in residency programs.
Facilities
The department supports a well-equipped veterinary referral hospital with specialty services in anesthesia; bird, zoo and exotic animal medicine; small animal medicine; cardiology; small animal soft tissue and orthopedic surgery; dermatology; emergency and critical care; equine medicine; equine surgery; large animal medicine; integrative medicine; medical oncology; ophthalmology; radiation oncology; diagnostic imaging; shelter medicine and theriogenology. The department has laboratories equipped for physiological research, cell biology, membrane physiology, PCR technology, gene expression, kinesiology, biomechanical testing, stem cell biology, and assisted reproduction. In addition, support from a full-capability gene research laboratory; cell and organ culture facilities; fluorescent activated cell sorting and analysis; cytokine, lymphokine and monoclonal antibody techniques; and a microscopy center with confocal and electron microscopy provide for diverse research endeavors. The department forms the base of the interdepartmental Equine Health Studies Program and is supported by well-equipped animal facilities.
How to Apply
Applications for MS and PhD degrees are processed by the LSU Graduate School.
MS in AI
Innovate. Diagnose. Lead.
About the Program
Join LSU Vet Med’s groundbreaking Master’s program where artificial intelligence meets veterinary medicine. You’ll help develop real-time diagnostic tools to detect and manage ear diseases in dogs and cats using cutting-edge deep learning and computer vision technologies.
Your Mission:
- Train AI to identify pet ear diseases using digital otoscopy images
- Design mobile and cloud-based applications for clinical use
- Collaborate with veterinarians, engineers, and data scientists
- Present, publish, and possibly commercialize your work
What You’ll Gain
- Full stipend and tuition coverage through the LSU VCS Master's Program, subject to available funding.
- Mentorship from experts in AI, engineering, and veterinary medicine
- Dr. Apostolopoulos, assistant professor and board-certified dermatologist
- Dr. Paul, associate professor in electrical engineering
- Experience with YOLO, PyTorch, and high-performance computing
- NSF I-Corps™ entrepreneurial training
- Access to real clinical data from LSU’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Who Should Apply?
- Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree (Degree in Veterinary Medicine is NOT required).
- A solid background in computer science, data science, or artificial intelligence.
- Experience in machine learning, computer vision, and deep learning (e.g., TensorFlow,
PyTorch,
YOLO models). - Strong skills in Python programming, numerical computing (NumPy), data analysis and
manipulation
(Pandas). - Excellent communication skills, proficiency in English (written and spoken; see Graduate
Program
Handbook) - Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Strong desire for entrepreneurship and the skills to develop innovative solutions.
As part of this role,
you will be expected to engage in entrepreneurial activities.
Why LSU Vet Med?
- LSU is a pioneer in AI.
- Our Team is a pioneer in Applied AI in Veterinary Medicine, developing and validating
the first AI
model for paw and ear skin diseases worldwide. - LSU - School of Veterinary Medicine is a leader in clinical research. We are experiencing
unprecedented growth, having a premier team of world-renowned clinicians, educators, and
researchers providing an elite healthcare experience in Louisiana and the region. Here science meets
passion and global health prevails. - Baton Rouge offers a vibrant academic multi-cultural environment, access to cutting-edge
technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a high quality of life with a low cost of living. - LSU's Veterinary Teaching Hospital provides a wealth of real-world clinical cases
for AI model
development and testing.
How to Apply
- Applications are processed by the LSU Graduate School. For further information, read here.
- Additionally, please submit your CV and a statement of interest detailing your qualifications
and
motivation for this Master’s position, and any inquiries to napostolopoulos@lsu.edu. - Review the LSU Veterinary Clinical Sciences Master's Program eligibility requirements. Please pay attention to the deadlines for domestic and international candidates!
- Applications are accepted at any time but are evaluated only after all supporting
documents and credentials (official transcripts, official GRE scores, Graduate School
application for admission, application fee) have been received. Application should
be initiated at least six months prior to anticipated entry. Dr. Apostolopoulos must
have accepted you as a student in his laboratory before admission is considered. Unconditional
admission to the Graduate School for MS and PhD programs requires that applicants
score at least 300 on the GRE (verbal plus quantitative scores) and have an overall
grade point average in veterinary or undergraduate school of at least 3.00 on an “A”
= 4.0 scale. Foreign nationals from countries where English is not the first language
must have a TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based test or
79 on the Internet-based test, have an IELTS score of at least 6.5, or have a PTE score of at least 59 and meet standards of proficiency in English as required by the Graduate School.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Learn more at lsu.edu/graduateschool/admissions
Learn more about the NAVDLab