About the role#
This internship places behavioral medicine at the center of clinical care. You will work under the mentorship of board-certified laboratory animal veterinarians to gain hands-on exposure to behavioral health assessments, enrichment programs, and welfare initiatives. This role is designed for students pursuing a PhD in Behavioral Animal Science or a DVM/VMD degree who are considering or actively pursuing ACLAM board eligibility.
What you'll do#
- Complete a mentored project focused on a clinical behavioral welfare challenge, develop a practical solution, and present your findings to the program team.
- Observe and participate in behavioral welfare assessments while learning to identify species-typical versus abnormal behaviors in rodents, companion animals, agricultural animals, and other laboratory species.
- Shadow and assist with evaluating environmental enrichment strategies and low-stress, positive reinforcement-based handling protocols under direct veterinary supervision.
- Participate in clinical rounds with the veterinary team to gain exposure to humane endpoint recognition and welfare-based clinical decision-making.
- Assist in collecting and organizing behavioral welfare data using digital tools to contribute to program metrics and welfare improvement.
- Participate in staff training and gain experience communicating behavioral science concepts to animal care technicians and husbandry teams.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a PhD program in Behavioral Animal Science or a DVM/VMD program from an AVMA-accredited institution.
- Demonstrated interest in laboratory animal medicine, including eligibility or intent to pursue ACLAM board certification.
- Foundational knowledge of animal behavioral science, including normal and abnormal behavior patterns in common laboratory species.
- Interest in the clinical application of behavioral medicine, such as welfare assessment, enrichment, and patient-centered care.
- Familiarity with behavioral welfare assessment frameworks like the Five Domains model or grimace scale methodology.
- Experience using digital tools such as Microsoft Outlook, Excel, or Power BI for data organization and presentation.
- Prior laboratory animal medicine coursework, externship, or clinical rotation experience is a plus.
Location & details#
- Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
- Modality: On-site
- Employment: Full-time
- Sponsorship: Available
- Compensation: This is a paid internship.
About Zoetis
Zoetis operates in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. The company focuses on the prediction, prevention, detection, and treatment of animal illnesses. It serves veterinarians, pet owners, and livestock farmers across more than 100 countries. Founded in 2013, the organization is based in Parsippany, New Jersey, and employs over 10,001 people.
How to get in at Zoetis
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