Charles River Laboratories, Mattawan, MI

Description of Elective Experience: 

Charles River Laboratories is a contract research organization with opportunities for veterinary students to learn laboratory animal medicine with both rodents and larger animals. The student will have a variety of experiences during their time with CRL. They will have some hands on technical training with our training department, shadow clinical veterinarians and learn of their role in preclinical safety evaluations and discuss case management, they will have the opportunity to spend some time with our necropsy, pathology, and clinical pathology departments to learn about the importance of these areas within safety assessment, have a project to work on and present at the completion of the experience, spend time with our behavior staff, and spend some time within our surgery department.

Institutional and Educational Resources - staffing, equipment, etc.: 

CRL has qualified trainers that will assist with the hands on training of the extern, and there are board certified clinical lab animal veterinarians, anatomic, and clinical pathologists that will assist with knowledge of veterinarians within safety assessment, and certified research surgeons who will add to the extern's overall experience.  The equipment ranges from standard veterinary equipment and supplies to ultrasound, MRI, Fluoroscopy, CT, and a fully equipped clinical pathology lab.

Student Responsibilities - what is expected of students in terms of hours, days of the week, shadowing or actual support?: 

 Externs will be expected to be on site (unless the extern notifies the host of a necessary absence due to illness, symptoms of COVID-19, or a prior committment) Monday through Friday from 8 am until 4pm. During their time with CRL, the extern will be supported by a staff member and have someone available to assist at all times.

Supervisor: 
Dr. Ben Olthoff
Contact email: 
Address: 
54943 North Main Street
Mattawan, MI 49071
United States
Is student housing available?: 
No
Hours of supervision by a licensed veterinarian per week: 
40