There are two options for externship programs with Colorado State University (CSU) laboratory animal care program: 1. A 10-12 week summer program is available for first or second year veterinary students each year. This program will provide students with exposure to practical and clinical laboratory animal medicine and/or biomedical research. Students will be assigned a summer research project in an aspect of laboratory animal/comparative medicine. Stipends will be supported at student hourly rates, or students may apply through the ASLAP summer fellowship programs in years when those are available. Opportunities for this program will typically be advertised in Jan-Mar. 2. A 2-4 week externship opportunity for clinical year veterinary students with an interest in laboratory animal medicine (LAM) is also available. Candidates with an interest in a career in LAM will be given preference for these positions. Funds may be available to support externs through the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Career Pathways Committee (ACLAM CPC). Contact the program director for additional information about externship opportunities. CSU Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) provides care for a diverse set of species and research programs, with facilities located on three different campuses. These facilities range from ABSL 1-3 and include the Infectious Disease Research Complex’s Regional Biocontainment Laboratory. The fellowship program is headed by the Director of CSU’s ACLAM-approved Comparative Medicine Training Program. Comparative Medicine Residents and CSU LAR veterinary staff (~6 individuals) will provide guidance and mentorship to participants. The extern(s) will participate in the daily activities of the department, including assisting the veterinary technicians, facility managers and supervisor, staff veterinarians and post-DVM residents in the various daily activities. Typical tasks include: - Training in practical techniques
- Disease surveillance
- Pathology of laboratory animals
- Clinical case workup
- Husbandry and enrichment practices
- Facility design
- Protocol and Standard Operation Procedure design
- Regulatory oversight
- Participation in management meetings as appropriate and relevant
- Tours of CSU and other local laboratory animal facilities
During the program, externs will complete a project relevant to comparative/lab animal medicine that will be presented to the veterinary staff at the end of the externship.
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