ISU-CVM Seeks Student Applicants for SVIP and SMARI Internship Programs

January 28, 2015 — 

The Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine is seeking veterinary student applicants for two distinct, swine-specific internship programs, the Swine Veterinary Internship Program (SVIP) and the Swine Medicine Applied Research Internship (SMARI) with the Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC). Both programs have several openings for summer 2015.

Swine Veterinary Internship Program(SVIP)
SVIP interns will be assigned to a particular veterinary practice or swine production system within the United States for the 12 week long program. These roles provide students a multitude of opportunities to work not only with the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory personnel and swine faculty, but also with swine producers and veterinarians across the country, network with other students from various colleges of veterinary medicine, and interact with pharmaceutical industry representatives (including technical services veterinarians, sales force, marketing team, and research and development). Participants receive extensive training at the beginning of summer then apply that knowledge from the classroom and diagnostic lab throughout the rest of the summer. The overall goal of SVIP is twofold – exposure and practical experience in all veterinary health aspects of today’s pork industry as well as to provide an environment that fosters camaraderie and a venue for veterinary students to meet and interact with future colleagues and possible employers and to develop those relationships.

Swine Medicine Applied Research Internship (SMARI) with the Swine Medicine Education Center (SMEC)
SMEC interns will join a team of veterinary and graduate students in Ames, Iowa, or Audubon, Iowa, and conduct research on multiple projects, including their own research project, involving live animal work and clinical skills. SMEC interns will work directly with SMEC faculty and the Swine Intensive Studies Laboratory at ISU CVM, complete field trial work on applied medicine topics, perform clinical surveillance of populations, and apply a variety of communication tools to disseminate best practices to the swine industry. Participants will receive training in modern, commercial swine facilities at AMVC (www.amvcms.com ) and demonstrate a working knowledge of swine production systems. The SMEC internship is designed to provide the participant exposure to modern swine production practices and facilities while completing an in-depth applied swine medicine research project in a collaborative team environment.

Both SVIP and SMEC interns are required to conduct his/her own research project under the guidance and mentorship of a veterinarian or faculty member. Projects will be designed, managed, executed and summarized by the intern while ISU program coordinators and industry veterinarians will assist with planning and labor. Students will work on the project abstract during the summer and will receive feedback and advice from mentors and the SVIP/SMEC management teams with the end goal of submitting the abstract to the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Student Seminar competition at the annual meeting in March 2016.

Interested veterinary students should submit a curriculum vitae to either Chris Mowrer (SVIP) or Kristin Hammen (SMEC) as soon as possible. All experience levels will be considered. Early application is encouraged! Phone interviews will begin as soon as suitable applicants are found, and applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Veterinary students will be paid a stipend; contact Chris or Kristin for more details.