Veterinary Services (VS), 

a program within the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS), is proud to sponsor 

the Saul T. Wilson, Jr., Internship 

Program for undergraduate and 

graduate students in veterinary 

fields of study that support and are 

critical to the VS mission.

USDA Pathways Program: 

Saul T. Wilson, Jr., Internship

In carrying out our safeguarding mission, APHIS works to ensure the 

continued health of our Nation’s livestock and poultry. Within APHIS, 

the VS staff serves as the veterinary authority for the United States. It 

is our job to protect and improve the health, quality, and marketability 

of U.S. animals, animal products, and veterinary biologics.

Increases in global trade, the emergence of zoonotic diseases, and 

the threat of agroterrorism demand a comprehensive approach to 

protecting animal and public health. VS brings a wealth of skills and 

expertise to this effort—from global disease surveillance and animal 

health certification to disease eradication and emergency preparedness. In all of this work, we follow One Health principles to promote a 

collaborative, all-inclusive approach and make sure our decisions are 

grounded in the best science and information available. 

The USDA Pathways Program offers different “pathway” opportunities 

for students and recent graduates to work in agriculture, science, 

technology, math, environment, management, business, and many 

other fields. One of these pathways is the USDA Internship Program, 

which provides paid work experiences for students. VS participates 

in this program, offering the Saul T. Wilson, Jr., Internship to help 

ensure a steady stream of talented veterinarians on our staff. This 

internship is expected to last more than 1 year, and the intern may 

be converted to a permanent position with APHIS after completing the 

Pathways Program and meeting all other requirements.

The 

Saul T.Wilson, Jr., 

Internship Program

in Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences 

for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of 

race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital 

status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic 

information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s 

income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited 

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative 

means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 

TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of 

Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or 

call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

This publication supersedes Program Aid No. 1534, “The Saul T. Wilson, Jr., 

Scholarship Program in Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences,” which 

was last revised in July 2003.

Issued September 2015

VS Mission

As the Nation’s recognized animal health leader, we safeguard 

the health of animals, people, and the environment. 

VS Vision

To improve the health, productivity, and quality of life for animals 

and people and maintain and promote the safety and availability 

of U.S. animals, animal products, and veterinary biologics. 

APHIS—Many Goals, 

One Mission

APHIS is a multifaceted agency with a broad mission area that 

includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, 

regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering 

the Animal Welfare Act, and carrying out wildlife damage 

management activities. APHIS builds and maintains a worldclass system that safeguards the health of animals, plants, and 

ecosystems in the United States and fosters safe agricultural 

trade worldwide, resulting in abundant and affordable agricultural 

products for U.S. and international consumers. These efforts 

support USDA’s overall mission to protect and promote food, 

agriculture, and natural resources. 

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2175
Internship Experiences

As a Saul T. Wilson, Jr., intern, you will experience the real-world 

situations facing Federal regulatory veterinarians every day. Working 

in the field, you may:

n Assist with veterinary technician duties;

n Observe and/or conduct testing and identification activities to 

support disease management programs for livestock such as 

cattle, swine, and cervids;

n Contact owners to schedule animal disease testing;

n Attach animal identification tags and help with recordkeeping;

n Draw blood samples for laboratory testing;

n Brand animals that react to certain tests; or

n Help supervise disinfection and cleaning at affected sites.

Working in one of our animal health laboratories, you may conduct 

routine tests, log in test samples, track test results, or prepare 

specimens.

In an office setting, you may assist our disease programs with 

information gathering and data collection; data verification, tracking, 

coding, and entry; document review and literature searches; statistical, quantitative, or qualitative analysis; or producing preliminary 

analytical reports.

We provide a wide range of learning opportunities so our interns 

are prepared for life in the public veterinary field.

Internship Benefits 

The Saul T. Wilson, Jr., Internship provides students:

1) Up to $5,000 per year for undergraduate studies and up to 

$10,000 for graduate studies for tuition, books, tutors, and 

laboratory fees.

2) Paid employment during summer and school breaks as 

a Veterinary Student Trainee, participation in the Federal 

Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan (401K), 

and paid vacation and sick leave. Based on the length of 

the work periods, compensation may also include health 

insurance benefits. 

3) The possibility of conversion, without further competition, 

to a permanent appointment with APHIS upon successful 

completion of the program with a D.V.M. degree, training, 

and other work requirements.

After completing all of the mandatory requirements for the 

program, the student must become a full-time agency employee 

for at least 1 calendar year (12 months) for each school year (2 

semesters, 3 quarters, or the equivalent) that the student was 

covered by the internship. If the student intern does not accept an 

APHIS employment offer, he or she must reimburse all financial 

assistance received under the Wilson internship program. If the 

intern fails to serve the entire length of the mandatory APHIS 

employment period, the student must reimburse the agency a 

prorated share of the funds awarded. 

Application and Eligibility

Interested students must apply online via www.usajobs.gov. Locate 

the announcement using the key words “Saul T. Wilson” in the 

search engine under the “Student and Recent Graduates” tab. 

Please note that you must have a USAJOBS account to apply. The 

announcement will open in the spring for approximately a 2-week 

period. Upon entrance on duty, you must:

1) Be a U.S. citizen,

2) Be enrolled as a full-time student and/or accepted for 

enrollment in an accredited veterinary college or university 

within the United States—

a. Undergraduate applicants must have completed at least 

2 years (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours) of a 

4-year preveterinary medicine or other biomedical 

science curriculum.

b. Graduate student applicants must have completed not more 

than 1 full academic year of study in veterinary medicine. 

3) Be in good academic standing, and

4) Agree to work for the agency during school breaks for a 

minimum of 640 hours prior to completing your studies.

Required Documents 

The online application system will prompt you to answer selfassessment questions and to submit the following:

1) Resume;

2) Transcripts for all completed college work to date;

3) Proof of current enrollment and/or, if applicable, a letter of 

acceptance to graduate school; and 

4) A copy of your Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active 

Duty (DD-214), if you are claiming Veterans’ Preference.

Additional supplemental information and documentation will be 

requested at a later date if you meet the eligibility and initial 

application requirements. 

Who Is Saul 

T. Wilson, Jr.?

Dr. Wilson dedicated 

his professional career 

to public veterinary 

medicine, first within 

APHIS and then at 

Tuskegee University after he retired in 1989. 

During his Federal career, he made outstanding 

contributions to the health of the Nation’s 

livestock and poultry industries. He also played 

an essential role in eradicating foot-and-mouth 

disease from Mexico in the 1950s, helping 

protect our country against reinfection from 

this devastating animal disease. He made a 

long-lasting impact on APHIS and the field of 

public veterinary medicine. Today, his actions 

inspire veterinary students to practice public 

veterinary medicine.

For More Information

This internship may be available annually. To check availability 

or learn more, call the VS Management Support Division at 

(301) 851-3573 or visit our Web site:

www.aphis.usda.gov/animal-health/recruitment