This is a great opportunity for a college undergraduate or graduate student, who has a demonstrated interest in the professional field of wildlife health, including disease surveillance and response techniques, common and emerging wildlife diseases in Virginia’s wildlife populations, and public engagement in disease monitoring and prevention. The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is responsible for the management of inland fisheries, wildlife, and recreational boating for the Commonwealth of Virginia. We are leading wildlife conservation and inspiring people to value the outdoors and their role in nature.

DWR values Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion by striving to become a workforce that is reflective of the population it serves and recognized as the "employer of choice for all" in state government for recruiting, retaining, and sustaining a ready, diverse, and highly skilled workforce. We will ensure that policies and practices support an inclusive culture, not only in a manner that complies with all applicable laws but also fosters an environment in which every individual has the opportunity to prosper and contribute to the mission of the agency.

The successful incumbent will be self-motivated and able to work independently; have excellent oral and written communication skills; and a demonstrated interest in wildlife conservation, wildlife diseases, and animal health.

The 12-week internship is from May 16, 2025, thru August 1, 2025, and will average 30-40 hours per week.

Housing may be provided for this internship opportunity; however, it may require a 40-45-minute commute to the assigned work location. The successful incumbent will be responsible for securing their own transportation needs.

Opportunities for Professional Development

• Expanded knowledge and awareness of a broad array of common and emerging wildlife diseases, particularly those relevant to wildlife conservation needs in Virginia
• Hands-on experience in assessing and evaluating wildlife health and wildlife response (and exposure) to wildlife diseases.
• An understanding of the complexity of zoonotic diseases (those that can be transmitted to/from people) from both biological and sociological perspectives.
• Expanded knowledge and awareness of public interest in wildlife health and best practices for engaging and educating constituents.
• Skills and abilities in assembling and summarizing wildlife health information and data to guide wildlife conservation and management priorities.
• Skills and abilities in designing outreach materials, focused on increasing public awareness of wildlife health concerns, the DWR’s (and partners’) efforts to address and manage diseases of wildlife, and best practices to reduce disease transmission and impact.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicant must be at least 18 years of age and be enrolled as a college undergraduate or graduate, for the fall 2025 semester;
• Must currently be authorized to work in the United States, per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements (www.uscis.gov/I-9);
• Have a valid driver's license;
• Minimum GPA of 2.8 and be able to provide official college/university documentation of current GPA;
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel);
• Able to work independently, while following supervisor’s instructions and guidance;
• Demonstrated interest in wildlife conservation, wildlife diseases, animal health;
• Have good oral and verbal communication skills.

Additional Considerations

• Student working towards an undergraduate or graduate degree in wildlife management, wildlife biology, or a closely related field;
• experience with Adobe design products is a plus;
• experience with developing and designing outreach materials (e.g., website content, videos) is a plus