AAAP Externship/Internship List

The following companies are willing to host students for externship or summer internship experiences:

Aviagen Externship
Location: Elkmont, Alabama
Scope: Genetics
--Externship (Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks))
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Graduate students, Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, we do not sponsor visas
--Paid Externship? No
--Housing Available? Yes
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? GGP farms, GP farms, sick flock visit, vaccination, grading, chick placement, monitoring (practice blood, salmonella and AI sample collection), clean-out, hatchery, egg depot, veterinary laboratory, etc.
-- Internship Perks: Housing, some meals, transportation to and from the intern house
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Regi Onyema at [email protected] or (917) 736-7800
--Other information: Our preceptorship positions are given on a first come, first served basis. Please apply by emailing Dr. Regi Onyema with your CV at least 12-18 months before your visit, as our schedule fills quickly.

-OR-

Aviagen Internship
Location: Elkmont, AL; Sallisaw, OK, and Pikeville, TN
Scope: Genetics
--Internship (8-14 week commitment)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Undergraduates
--Where are you able to take students from? United States
--Paid Internship? Yes
--Housing Available? Yes
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships?
-          See and work in most aspects of the company (production, hatchery, feed mill, R&D, lab, vet services)
-          Complete and present on a project conducted during internship
-          Mentor provided during the program in area of interest
-          Professional development and team building activities
--Internship Perks: Housing is provided
--Contact person: Apply on Aviagen website. Applications due December 1^st.

BC Ministry of Agriculture - Animal Health Centre
Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Summer Internship (8 weeks commitment)
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Victoria Bowes at [email protected]
--Other information: Provincial Vet Lab (AAVLD-accredited) with a strong poultry caseload and exposure to a wide variety of avian, mammalian and fish cases including wildlife, legal and companion animals. Passionate and enthusiastic colleagues in a knowledgeable and encouraging learning environment. 35 hour work week.

Boehringer Ingelheim
Location: Remote, East-coast based
Scope: Allied (Bio/Pharma)
--Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Graduate students, Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada, Mexico, South America
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Sierra Slautterback at [email protected]

Butterball
Location: Goldsboro, NC
Species: Turkeys
--Externship 1-2 weeks only
--Summer Internship—ask about availability
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Eric Orozco at [email protected]

Cargill
Location: Arkansas (1 week) and Virginia (1 week)
Species: Turkeys
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Brian Wooming at [email protected]
--Other information: Most meals and housing provided

CEVA Animal Health
Location: United States—multiple locations
Scope: Allied (Bio/Pharma)
-- Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks)
-- What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Case specific
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Shadowing team veterinarians in the field.
--Internship Perks: Depends on the costs but some travel and expenses may be covered. Case specific.
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Kelli Jones at [email protected]

Cobb-Vantress, Inc
Location: Primarily NW Arkansas, but other southeast state locations are possible.
Species: Primary broiler-breeders
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Summer Internship** (8 weeks commitment)
--Paid Internship? Yes
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing (for preceptorships)
--Contact person: Dr. Bret Rings at [email protected] (for preceptorships)
--Other information: Typically lunch and breakfast are provided for preceptorships.
**Summer internships are available, but students need to contact Cobb's HR group (Gail Stickney at [email protected]) to apply and students are interviewed at IPPE in Atlanta.

Cooper Farms
Location: Fort Recovery, OH
Scope: Production - Layer, Production – Turkey
--Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks), Internship (8-14 week commitment)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Undergraduates, Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States
--Paid Internship? Yes
--Housing Available? Internship Yes, Externship Potentially Yes
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Field diagnostics and interpretation, husbandry practices, vaccination program overview and applications, economics of the industry, hatchery practices and visits, potential visits with turkey breeders, processing plant visits and food safety discussion.
--Internship Perks: Formal acceptance to an internship is paid with housing, transportation, etc.
--Contact person: Dr. Marie Severyn at [email protected], https://cooperfarms.com/company/careers
--Other information: The formal internship application can be found at https://cooperfarms.com/company/careers for application but students wanting a shorter rotation/visit will be accepted on a case-by-case basis.

Cutler Associates International
Location: Moorpark, CA
Scope: Production - Layer
--Externship (2+ weeks)
-- What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
-- Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada, Mexico, South America, Worldwide  
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Some of the time
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
-- What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Working with large egg production facilities
--Internship perks: Local transportation, meals, some housing
--Contact person: Dr. Gregg Cutler at [email protected]

-OR-

Dr. Nancy Reimers (Self-Employed/Cutler Associates)
Location: Gustine, CA (also other locations around the country)
Scope: Allied (Bio/Pharma), Production - Layer, Regulatory
--Shadow (1-2 days)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Shadow - any level, but prefer some poultry experience if beyond undergrad
--Contact person: Dr. Nancy Reimers at [email protected]

Dr. Mark Bland
Location: Napa, CA
Scope: Production - Broilers, Production - Layer, Production - Turkey
--Externship (2+ weeks)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Undergraduates, Graduate students, Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Yes
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Students have the opportunity to routinely perform a number of poultry related / on farm  activities including: taking blood and environmental (salmonella) samples, necropsy, performing Animal Welfare, FDA on-farm audits, reviewing on-farm bio-security protocols, bird handling and review Best Management Practices for poultry production (commercial and breeder level). Students will the chance to work with turkeys, squab, layers (conventional, cage free & pastured raised), game birds and commercial broilers (conventional, ABF, Organic).  When driving to the farm, students will get the chance to work on their problem solving skills through my interactive poultry production case studies.  I use inter-active poultry case studies to get students to think as a veterinarian, with real production flock problems.
--Internship Perks? Housing when local farm visits, meals, will transport to & from airport.
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Mark Bland at [email protected]
--Other information: Students need to contact Dr. Bland a year plus in advance, as space fills up quickly! There will be some extensive travel, mostly by vehicle (California is a very big state). Students will be responsible for covering hotel and air travel costs. Hotels normally range from $65.00 to 120.00+ per night (Best Western). Dr. Bland will do his best to keep this at a minimum, as well as work with your arrival and departure schedule if we visit clients outside of California. When not traveling overnight, you will stay with Dr. Bland’s family as his guest. Dr. Bland will cover meal expenses.

Elanco Animal Health
Location: Mostly in southeastern US. 7 states covered.
--Shadowing/Externship (2-3 days at a time)
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: January 1st
--Contact person: Dr. Francene Van Sambeek at [email protected]
--Other information: All hotels and meals will be covered when traveling with Elanco. This is a good opportunity to experience the life of an allied poultry veterinarian!

EW Nutrition
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Sope: Allied (Bio/Pharma), Production – Broilers
--Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Undergraduates, Graduate students, Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Yes
--Contact person: Dr. Callie McQuain at [email protected]

Farbest Foods, Inc.
Location: Jasper, IN
Species: Turkeys
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Duane Murphy at [email protected]

Gaydos Technical Services
Location: Variable
Scope: Production - Broilers, Production - Turkeys
--Externship (Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks))
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada, Mexico, South America
--Is the internship paid? No
--Housing Available? Yes
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships?  Depending on the schedule we are able to see different types of broiler, broiler breeder, or turkey production. With enough lead time we should be able to see a variety of production systems in a variety of climates.
--Contact person: Dr. TJ Gaydos at [email protected]

Huvepharma
Location: United States—multiple locations
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. David Smith at [email protected]
--Other information: Lodging and meals while traveling with Huvepharma employees will be provided

Hybrid Turkeys
Location: Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota
Species: Turkeys
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Summer Internship (8 weeks commitment)
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Marion Garcia at [email protected]
--Other information: Transportation, lodging, and meals will be covered. We would look to develop a project with defined goals with the student to undertake. We would expect a presentation to the appropriate entities within Hybrid at the end of the project.

Hy-Line, NA
Location: Des Moines, IA
Species: Primary breeders-egg-layers
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Bernie Beckman at [email protected]
--Other information: Housing provided

Jennie-O Turkey Store
Location: Willmar, MN
Scope: Production - Turkey
--Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Veterinary Students (VM4)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States
--Housing Available? Yes
--Internship Perks: Lodging provided (usually hotel) for student for up to 2 weeks. Student must provide own transportation to and from airport and to and from area to area (ie Willmar, MN to Barron, WI). Breakfast and lunch usually provided.
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Ashley Poissant at [email protected]

Lincoln Premium Poultry
Location: Fremont, NE
Scope: Production - Broilers
--Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks), Internship (8-14 week commitment)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships? Graduate students, Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States
--Paid Internship? Yes
--Housing Available? No
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Field experience in poultry management, diagnostics, and time in chicken houses. 
--Internship Perks: Company vehicle
--Deadline to apply: April 1st
--Contact person: Dr. Luke Baldwin at [email protected]

Michael Foods, Inc.
Location: Wakefield, NE
Species: Egg layer chickens
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Summer Internship (8 weeks commitment)
--Paid Internship? Yes
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Please apply using this link: https://jobs.postholdings.com/michael-foods/jobs/14476?lang=en-us
--Contact person: Dr. Julie Kelly at [email protected]
--Other information: Housing provided as available, lunch provided, most transportation available

Merck Animal Health
Location: United States – location varies by supporting host
--Summer internship (4-12 week commitment)
--Housing provided by host
--Deadline to apply: December 1st
--Contact person: Dr. Emma Castillo at [email protected]
--Other information: Geared towards 1^st and 2^nd year veterinary students interested in poultry. Students are paired with a leading poultry company for the summer and undertake a project.

Merck Animal Health
Location: United States—multiple locations
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: May 1st
--Contact person: Dr. Andres Montoya at [email protected]
--Other information: Meals, transportation, hotels provided

Mississippi State University
Location: Pearl, MS
--Preceptorship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: November 15th
--Contact person: Dr. Martha Pulido Landinez at [email protected]
--Other information: Students must provide their meals and transportation (public transportation is not available). Free of charge room could be shared with another student.

Mountaire Farms
Location: Candor, NC and Millsboro, DE
Scope: Production – Broilers
--Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks), Internship (8-14 week commitment)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Undergraduates, Graduate students, Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States
--Paid Internship? Yes
--Housing Available? Internship Yes, Depends on duration of Externship
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Visiting Hatcheries, Grow-out, and processing plants to examine bird health and performance.
--Internship Perks: Housing
--Contact person: https://mountairejobs.com/#en/sites/CX_3001/job/19073?keyword=intern&mode=location
--Other information: Above website is for the Summer 2025 internship, for externships, please contact myself or Dr. Meagan Slater at [email protected] & [email protected]

North Carolina State University
Location: Raleigh, NC
--Preceptorship—2 weeks only
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Isabel Gimeno at [email protected]
--Other information: Opportunity to participate in research, teaching activities, and more!

Perdue Foods LLC
Location: Washington IN
Species: Turkeys and broiler chickens
--Externship—1 week only
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Dave Hermes at [email protected]
--Other information: Lunch and motel lodging provided

Penn State Animal Diagnostic Lab
Location: University Park, PA
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Megan Lighty at [email protected] or 814-863-0837
--Other information: Transportation available while at facility. This preceptorship will be at the diagnostic lab; possibility for some farm visits.

Phibro Animal Health Corp.
Location: Multiple
Scope: Allied (Bio/Pharma)
--Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week), Team members may be able to host students
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States
--Paid Internship? Yes
--Housing Available? Potentially, Externship. No, Internship.
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Projects, posting sessions.
--Internship Perks: Handled by Luis Gomez
--Deadline to apply: May 31st
--Contact person: Dr. Luis Gomez at [email protected]
--Other information: Willing to help how we can.

Dr. Victoria Drouet Pratt (Self-Employed)
Location: Chattanooga, TN
Scope: Production – Broilers
--Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Yes, Externships and Internships
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Broiler production field experience. (Pullets/breeders/hatchery/broilers)
--Internship Perks? Housing and meals
--Contact person: Dr. Victoria Pratt at [email protected].

Prestage Farms
Location: Clinton, NC
Species: Turkeys
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Claude Hebron at [email protected]
--Other information: Some meals provided. Students will get lots of hands-on experience!

Select Genetics
Location: Willmar, MN or Aurora, MO or Wadesboro, NC
Species: Turkeys
--Externship—1 week only
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Ben Wileman at [email protected]
--Other information: Housing and most meals provided.

UC Davis, CAHFS Turlock Diagnostic Lab
Location: Turlock, CA
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: December 1st
--Contact person: Dr. Simone Stoute at [email protected]
--Other information: Mainly commercial poultry necropsy and diagnostic experience with some opportunities for field visits with California poultry vets.

University of Georgia—Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center (PDRC)
Location: Athens, GA
Scope: Academia, Diagnostic Lab
--Externship (2+ weeks)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada, Mexico, South America
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Yes
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Learn histopathology of poultry diseases. Participate in necropsy duty as time permits
-- Internship Perks: Housing for non UGA students at PDRC, rotation can be 2-3 weeks for DVM students and residents.
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Susan Williams at [email protected]
--Other information: Students from other countries need a lot of advanced planning to come. We are willing to work with students. 

-OR-

Dr. Karen Grogran (UGA Poultry Diagnostic and Research Center)
Location: Athens, GA
Scope: Academia, Diagnostic Lab, Production - Broilers, Production – Layer
--Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4), Post-DVM Veterinary Students (Residents), Visiting Professionals
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada, Mexico, South America
--Housing Available? Yes
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? Visiting students and professionals participate in diagnostic cases in the PDRC Diagnostic Lab, participate in potential field visits and attend classes (depending on time of year).  If students have specific interest areas, those opportunities can be requested.  Veterinary students are also asked to either complete a literature review paper or a short presentation on a poultry medicine topic of their choice.
-- Internship Perks: Guest housing may be available, request early!
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Karen Grogan at [email protected]

USDA Agricultural Research Service, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Endemic Poultry Viral Diseases Research Unit
Location: Athens, GA
-Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Summer Internship (8 weeks commitment)
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Cari Hearn at [email protected]
--Other information: Visitation: Laboratory, layers

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Housing Available? Yes
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Jessica Walters at [email protected]
--Other information: Housing available for a low fee

Wilson Veterinary Co.
Location: Fort Wayne Indiana, Indianapolis Indiana, Northwest Iowa, Minneapolis Minnesota
Scope: Production - Layer
-- Shadow (1-2 days), Externship (1 week), Externship (2+ weeks)
--What type of students are you able to take for externships/internships: Undergraduates, Graduate students, Veterinary Students (VM1-3), Veterinary Students (VM4)
--Where are you able to take students from? United States, Canada, Mexico, South America
--Paid Internship? No
--Housing Available? Students will be responsible for paying for housing costs. They can stay for free at vets homes if comfortable and depending on visit schedule. Hotel rooms will need to be covered by the student.
--What type of experiences and professional opportunities do you provide during externships/internships? We offer a wide variety of layer experience depending on the externship. We are a 5 vet practice that services over 70 million layers in 22 different states. Our clientele ranges from conventional style housing to free-range organic style housing. Externships will usually occur around a client. During the client visit a posting session will occur. This will be an opportunity to understand what wellness parameters are analyzed as well as a chance to necropsy healthy hens. Mortality will also be necropsied and diagnosed. Flocks will then be reviewed and other issues that a client is having. Farm visits can last anywhere from 1-3 days depending on the number of flocks needing looked at or issues the client wants to work on. After the visit, reports will be typed up based on findings and suggested areas for improvement.
--Deadline to apply: Jan 1st
--Contact person: Dr. Michaela Olson at [email protected], [email protected], and wilsonvetco.com.

Zoetis
Location: United States—multiple locations
--Externship (2-3 week commitment)
--Will also host Avian Medicine Externs
--Housing Available? No
--Deadline to apply: Ongoing
--Contact person: Dr. Jon Schaeffer at [email protected]

To add your company to the AAAP Externship/Internship list, please contact the AAAP office at [email protected].