MLASC-MS - Laboratory Animal Science (MS)

External credit is not accepted for this program.

The Department of Comparative Medicine (DCM) is committed to academic advising and supporting graduate students’ scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the advisor and the advisee. The department’s Student Services Officer, Tom Albert, also serves as a student resource and can assist with degree progress, policy requirements, program requirements, and more.

Graduate students are expected to have selected a faculty mentor by their second quarter in the program.

Faculty mentors are expected to meet with graduate students at least once a quarter to discuss and assist with developing the student’s Individual Development Plans. Additionally, the department encourages advisors and students to meet regularly throughout the year to discuss the student’s professional development in critical areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship. They should proactively seek academic and professional guidance and take responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for the MS in Laboratory Animal Science (MLAS) program.

As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

The program director and staff monitor academic progress and student completion of program requirements and milestones. These are reviewed during the Masters of Laboratory Animal Science Faculty Advisory Committee each quarter. The program website provides a detailed description of the program’s requirements, milestones, and advising expectations (for students and their advisors).

Graduate students and their faculty mentors are encouraged to collaborate with the department’s student services officer, Tom Albert, for referrals to campus resources, which include the Biosci Careers Center, Vaden Health, etc.   

Additionally, the program adheres to the advising guidelines and responsibilities listed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education (VPGE), at Graduate Academic Policies (GAP), and at Graduate Advising.

For more information regarding Graduate Student Advising and Postdoctoral/Resident Mentoring, contact the following people:

• Graduate Student Advising: Venessa Juarez (Student Services Officer), venessaj@stanford.edu

• Program Director: Megan Albertelli (Comparative Medicine Chair),megan.albertelli@stanford.edu

• Program Co-Director: Jose Vilches-Moure, jvilches@stanford.edu

• Postdoctoral Student/Residents: David Bentzel (Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency Director), dbentzel@stanford.edu

• Postdoctoral/Resident: Monika Huss (Resident and Trainee Wellness Advisor), monikag@stanford.edu