Sample Master's Projects and Field Experiences

Sample Master's Projects

"Characterization of environmental factors that influence the evolution of antimicrobial resistance of E. coli and salmonella in water ways of rural Chile"
"Identifying and analyzing communication methods used to inform Minnesota veterinarians regarding emergency animal health information"
"Critical control points for prevention of antibiotic residues in milk from the University of Minnesota CVM's Transition Management Faculty (TMF)"
"Understanding noscomial infections in veterinary teaching hospitals"
"Tuberculosis and brucellosis in rural communities surrounding Santa Cruz, Bolivia"
"Interrupting the manure pathogen cycle on dairy farms"
"Rabies in MN: An evaluation of human and animal exposures, 1994 – 2004"
"Reptiles and salmonella – difference in severity of the illness"
"Molecular characterization and epidemiology of Listeria Monocytogenes in animals diagnosed at the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Lab"
"Johne's Dis Prevention of Mycobacterium Paratuberculosis Infections in Humans"

Sample Field Experiences

Title	USDA/APHIS Eradication of 2002/2003 Exotic Newcastle Disease Outbreak in California
Primary Goal	To see how emergency responses to an outbreak could be organized To see an incident command system in action and learn more about the political considerations surrounding foreign animal disease.
Location	Garden Grove, CA working for the USDA/APHIS Exotic Newcastle Disease Task Force
Student's Comment	"This is good for students interested in working for the government and a great way to learn about emergency preparedness."
Preceptor	Deputy Incident Commander

Title	USDA/APHIS Smith-Kilborne Foreign Animal Disease Training Program in New York
Primary Goal	To understand foreign animal health/disease, animal trade, and the human health implications.
Location	CVM, Cornell University and Plum Island Animal Disease Center, NY
Student's Comment	"A great experience!"

Title	Surveillance and Communications Minnesota Department of Health
Primary Goals	To assist the Bioterrorism epidemiology and Surveillance Unit in developing a Veterinary Alert Network to be used to communicate emergency animal health information to Minnesota veterinarians and allied animal health professionals To assist in conducting surveillance and response activities for bioterrorism and emerging zoonotic diseases.
Location	Minnesota Department of Health, MN
Student's Comment	"A great way to learn how state agencies operate."
Preceptor	Supervisor, Bioterrorism Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Title	MN Board of Animal Health
Primary Goal	To explore career opportunities in the field of public health, outside of a University setting
Location	Board of Animal Health in St. Paul, MN
Student's Comment	"I would recommend this field experience. I was put on a real project and developed a media fact sheet."

Title	MN Board of Animal Health
Primary Goal	To assist Board of Animal Health Veterinarian with upcoming projects and observe the role of the Board of Animal Health in emergent animal diseases
Location	Board of Animal Health in St. Paul, MN

Title	Explore Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Primary Goal	To gain a greater understanding of international veterinary public health To learn more about international issues of poverty alleviation, rural development, environmental health, and VPH
Location	Headquarters in Rome, Italy, with regional offices in Africa (Ghana), Asia and the Pacific (Thailand), Latin American and the Caribbean (Chile), and the Near East (Egypt)
Student's Comment	"This was a great experience!"
Preceptor	Senior Officer (Parasitology with the Animal Health Service); and Animal Health Officer within the Animal Production Service

Title	Student Epidemiology Extern at CDC
Primary Goal	To become familiar with the Center for Disease Control Epidemic Intelligence Service working as a student extern To become involved in the national administrative issues related to public health
Location	CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia
Student's Comment	"Great experience! The CDC works to match students with their area of interest."
Preceptor	Chief of Foodborne Epidemiology Section

Title	Chronic Waste Disease Sampling Program
Primary Goal	To learn the history of the disease, cases, transmission and other factors that affect public health To learn tissue sampling techniques for field extraction and proper record keeping
Location	State of MN

Title	Sherburne County Public Health Department
Primary Goal	To focus on emergency preparedness regarding pets in natural disasters To interview local veterinarians concerned about their emergency preparedness plan.
Location	Sherburne County Public Health Department, Elk River, MN
Student's Comment	"I would encourage students to have their experience at Sherburne County [Public Health Department]."
Preceptor	Public Health Planner

Title	Veterinary Intern Program
Primary Goal	Experience with the implementation of an animal identification program and exposure to North Dakota Biosecurity Response team.
Location	Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC) Dickinson, ND
Student's Comment	"This was a great field experience!"
Preceptor	Livestock Specialist at the Dickenson Research Extension Center

Title	Plum Island NY Foreign Animal Disease School (USDA/APHIS/VS)
Primary Goal	To care for laboratory animals that were being inoculated with foreign animal diseases. The FADD school's goal is to education state & federal veterinarians about foreign diseases.
Location	Riverdale, MD
Student's Comment	"This experience is one I will never forget! I met new friends and learned about government research."
Preceptor	Training Technician

Sample Master's Projects and Field Experiences, School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota