To apply for the position, students should send a letter expressing interest in the program, a brief statement on their interest in laboratory animal medicine, a resume and the name and telephone number of three references.

How many trainees at one time?

The BRL externship program is designed to provide interested veterinary students with an opportunity to gain experience in laboratory animal medicine in a large centralized animal care program. There are 2-4 week programs for veterinary students in their clinical rotations as well as a 12 week summer program that is sponsored by the ASLAP Foundation.

The program ephasizes gaining hands-on experience in laboratory animal medicine, surgery and anesthesiology as well as becoming familiar with the standard husbandry procedures employed in an AAALAC accredited animal care program.

The students are taught by the professional staff, the technical support staff, and the animal care staff. They will often be given problem solving experiences which they will work on and then present in group meetings or grand rounds. Through their exposure to the many and varied research projects conducted, they will gain first-hand experience supporting research programs, but will not be formally involved in any on-going research programs. The program is designed to emphasize the support and service aspect of laboratory animal medicine with an emphasis on the multi-disciplinary team approach that has become such an integral part of biomedical research today.

The program consists of rotations through the three clinical divisions (large animal, small animal, and primates), experimental surgery and radiology, and the diagnostic laboratory. Initially the student is assigned to the research surgery service to develop skills in administering and monitoring anesthesia and to assist in all surgery performed by the veterinary staff and selected principal investigators. Following a thorough introduction to aseptic techniques, the student begins to suture incisions and works up to performing, under supervision, a variety of soft tissue and colony related surgical procedures. In addition to this assignment, the student will make clinical rounds with the postdoctoral fellows, in their area of assigned responsibility, with emphasis being placed on getting exposure to the cases and activities in the primate colony. In addition to this initial exposure the student will work with the breeding technician in the primate colony assessing the female reproductive cycles. The student will also be assigned responsibility for following the procedural schedule in the primate quarantine area and will review all pertinent clinical, laboratory and radiology data with the veterinary staff.