Internships, Externships, & Fellowships
Your Educational Experience
Students gain practical experience while helping us achieve our mission.
Individuals with a serious interest in working dogs may become more deeply involved with the Penn Vet Working Dog Center through internships, externships, and fellowships.
Student Internships
The Penn Vet Working Dog Center offers unpaid internships to current college students or to those seeking a meaningful experience during a gap year before continuing their education. Summer, intersession, and gap year opportunities are available.
The Penn Vet Working Dog Center is excited to offer internships to college students or to those seeking a meaningful experience during a gap year before continuing their education.
Please note, these are unpaid internships and require a minimum of 350 hours.
Internships are relevant to many areas of study including behavioral science, canine fitness, psychology, law enforcement, biology and canine olfaction research.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
- Daily hands-on interaction with working dogs in training
- Opportunity to learn about dog training and scientific research
LOCATION: The Penn Vet Working Dog Center is located at: Pennovation Works (South Bank Campus), 3401 Grays Ferry Avenue, Building 470, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19146. Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the student.
Requirements
- Minimum 12-week commitment
- Minimum 20 hours per week, typically three days per week. Must meet 350 hour commitment.
- 18+ years of age
- Attendance and punctuality
- Adherence to dress code: long pants, closed-toed shoes, long-sleeve shirt, work gloves, treat bag, clicker, leash
- Flexibility and willingness to learn
Application Deadline
Rolling admission
Traditional Summer Internship
- June 2 through August 8, 2025 (must complete 10 weeks or 350 hours)
- Application deadline: March 28, 2025
Gap Year Internship, for recent high school or college graduates
There is flexibility in the Gap Year Experience. See criteria for Intersession Internships above and contact the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for more information.
Requirements
- Flexibility and willingness to learn
- Monday through Friday, 35 hours/week (work hours may vary); must complete a total of 350 hours
- 18+ years of age
- Attendance and punctuality
Adherence to dress code: long pants, closed-toed shoes, long-sleeve shirt, work gloves, treat bag, clicker, leash
Email your résumé, cover letter, availability, and one letter of reference to the Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator.
Questions? Contact the Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator at pvwdcoutreach@vet.upenn.edu.
Veterinary Student Fellowship
This summer research Fellowship at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center is funded by the Frank W. Lloyd Fellowship Fund. This is a paid summer internship for a first- or second-year veterinary student who is interested in learning more about Working Dog research, medicine and fitness. The selected intern will be immersed in Penn Vet Working Dog Center research and sports medicine, while gaining hands-on experience with our scent detection canines. There is a focus on Working Dog Research, Sports and Performance Medicine and Working Dog Clinical Care.
Requirements and Information
- First- or second-year veterinary student
- Comprehensive understanding of the Penn Vet Working Dog Center’s foundation program and contributions in Research, Education, and Training
- Attention to detail and ability to work well with others are essential
- Dog handling experience is helpful, but not necessary
- Writing experience is helpful, but not required
- Internship typically runs from mid-May to mid-August; hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- While the core elements of this internship are onsite at the PVWDC, there are components that can and will need to be done remotely.
How to Apply
Point of contact is Ruth Desiderio, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator at pvwdcoutreach@vet.upenn.edu.
Email Ruth your cover letter, résumé, and one letter of recommendation. If you are not able to send these all together in one email, please advise when/if missing piece will be received and note that it cannot be past the deadline.
Deadline is March 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM Eastern
Selected applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. One stipend is available for this position.
Veterinary Student Externships
- The Externship rotation for veterinary students is Monday thru Friday. We are open from 7 AM to 7 PM so students can plan on spending between eight and 10 hours a day at the Center.
- All aspects of working dog medicine including nutrition, behavior, training, dentistry, sports medicine, conditioning, disaster response, reproduction, emergency first aid, preventive medicine and genetics will be addressed.
- There is both a research and practical component to this externship.
- Students in their clinical year are welcome to apply for a three-week rotation at the center. We accept summer interns as well. Housing is not provided. No stipend is provided.
Requirements and Information
- Students must provide a letter indicating current vet school enrollment, have an adequate rabies titer, health insurance and liability insurance.
- The WDC does not provide housing and we do not handle visas.
- We accept students only from AVMA accredited schools.
How to Apply
- Complete the Penn Vet Externship Application…
- Submit a cover letter outlining your reasons for requesting acceptance, dates you wish to do your externship, resumé, and a minimum of one letter of recommendation to Dr. Meghan Ramos at megramos@vet.upenn.edu.
Veteran Fellowship
We appreciate the men and women who have served our country and recognize the special contributions that American soldiers make to the future generation of working dogs being training at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center.
Penn Vet Working Dog Center
Follow PVWDC:
3401 Grays Ferry Ave., Bldg. 470, Philadelphia, PA 19146