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• Student Trainee (Admin) - Madison, WI - apply by Feb 28, 2013

Information for Veterinary Students on Applying for an Externship at the National Wildlife Health Center

The National Wildlife Health Center does not have a formal intern/extern program, but we do accept students in non-paid internships or externships providing their interests and needs are compatible with the expertise of NWHC staff and that our staff is available to serve as mentors. Accepted students have usually completed their third year of veterinary school and spend 4-6 weeks at the NWHC. We have found that externships/internships of 3 weeks or less do not provide the student with ample opportunity to gain experience and skills and are difficult for staff to accommodate in their schedule. The NWHC typically is unable to provide funding during the externship; however, if an extern is sent into the field during his/her externship, those costs would be covered. Also the NWHC has no housing available on site, but we can assist you in locating temporary housing.

A major component of disease investigations at the NWHC is conducting necropsies and examining dead animals in order to ascertain the cause of mortality. We do not treat sick or injured wildlife. The only live animals on site are experimental research animals and several small mammal breeding colonies. Occasionally field studies involve the capture, handling and examination of free-ranging wildlife. The NWHC would have suitable opportunities for individuals interested in disease diagnostics, pathology and epidemiology of wildlife diseases, in veterinary care for research animals and small mammal breeding colonies, in the capture and handling of free-ranging wildlife, and in research on wildlife health and disease issues, but not for those interested in the treatment of sick or injured wild animals.

To assess the match between your expectations about experiences, knowledge and skills that you will obtain during an externship and the opportunities that the NWHC has to offer, please provide the following information:

1. A resume describing your education, training and experiences.
2. Brief description of the goals for your externship. Please comment on specific topics on which you are seeking experience, describe your career goals, and explain briefly how your externship at the NWHC will contribute to those goals.
3. What is expected or required of the organization that sponsors or hosts an extern from your program? For example, will we need to complete an evaluation or provide particular types of training?
4. What is expected or required of the student? For example, do you need to conduct an independent project and write a report?
5. The dates of the proposed externship.

You can send this to Joanne Bosch via e-mail – jbosch@usgs.gov, or via the US Postal Service to the address listed below. Once this information is received, it will be circulated it to staff at the NWHC and a mentor will be identified along with potential projects.Typically we will have a response from the staff within 15 days of receipt of your materials.

Browse the NWHC Web site to learn more about the NWHC. Information on volunteer, student and other positions concerning specific projects are posted on this web site.

Thank you for your interest in NWHC and we look forward to hearing from you.

USGS National Wildlife Health Center
6006 Schroeder Road
Madison, WI 53711

Tel. 608-270-2400