About the role#
This internship is designed for a DVM graduate interested in the clinical application of laboratory animal medicine and behavior. You will join a global animal welfare program that prioritizes behavioral medicine in daily clinical care. Working under the mentorship of board-certified laboratory animal veterinarians, you will gain hands-on experience in behavioral health assessments, species-specific enrichment, and welfare improvement initiatives. You will also complete a mentored project focused on a clinical behavioral welfare challenge, which you can use for your professional portfolio or ACLAM board eligibility.
What you'll do#
- Complete a mentored project focused on a clinical behavioral welfare challenge and present your findings.
- Observe and participate in behavioral welfare assessments to identify species-typical vs. abnormal behaviors in rodents, companion animals, agricultural animals, and other species.
- Shadow and assist with the evaluation of environmental enrichment strategies and low-stress, positive reinforcement-based handling protocols.
- Participate in clinical rounds with the veterinary team to gain exposure to behavioral assessments, humane endpoint recognition, and welfare-based clinical decision-making.
- Assist in the collection and organization of behavioral welfare data using digital tools to support continuous improvement.
- Participate in staff enrichment and training activities, including communicating behavioral science concepts to animal care technicians and husbandry teams.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a DVM or VMD degree program from an AVMA-accredited institution.
- A demonstrated interest in laboratory animal medicine, with an intent to pursue ACLAM board certification.
- Foundational knowledge of animal behavioral science, including normal and abnormal behavior patterns.
- Interest in the clinical application of behavioral medicine, such as welfare assessment, enrichment, and low-stress handling.
- Basic familiarity with behavioral welfare assessment frameworks.
- Experience using digital tools including Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Power BI or similar platforms.
- Prior coursework, externship, or clinical rotation experience in laboratory animal medicine is a plus.
- Exposure to IACUC processes or AAALAC accreditation standards is welcomed.
Location & details#
- Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan (on-site).
- Employment type: Full-time.
- Compensation: This is a paid internship.
- Sponsorship: Not provided.
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
Applying early to Zoetis roles gives you a clear advantage before the applicant pool becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first and ensure your materials are seen before the pile grows. Reaching out to the people managing these openings often yields better results than a standard submission. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the company roles so you can contact them directly to ask about the position or a referral, which materially improves your response rates.
