Externship Program Description:  The objectives of this educational opportunity are to provide students with an experiential rotation in the Veterinary       Pathology and Laboratory Animal Medicine and to develop a broad overview of the many opportunities for employment of veterinarians within the pharmaceutical industry.  Externs will work in Greenfield and Indianapolis facilities and will experience the process of pharmaceutical drug development from discovery research to clinical trials.  Within the Pathology Department, externs will participate in investigative pathology, biomarker development, and nonclinical drug safety assessment studies.  Externs will be expected to interact with members of the Clinical Pathology, Histology, and Necropsy Management teams. In the Laboratory Animal Medicine, externs will work  with laboratory animal veterinarians and staff as they interact with pathologists and other Lilly scientists in various aspects of the drug development process.  Externs will have opportunities to work with veterinarians and other Lilly scientists in Discovery Research, Department of Adsorption-Distribution-Metabolism and Excretion, and ELANCO (Lilly’s animal health pharmaceuticals company).  A small amount of flexible time will be arranged so that the extern may choose to spend additional time in an area of interest.

Indianapolis/Greenfield:  Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, is the 12th largest city in the nation and is referred to as the “Crossroads of America” due to its central location and easy access by automobile and air travel.  A jewel of the Midwest, Indianapolis is a city rich in culture, comfort, and comradery.  You will learn the meaning of the term “Hoosier Hospitality” when you visit this city complete with theaters, memorials, museums, and parks.  Indianapolis is the home of three colleges/universities and is only a short drive from five more universities of international prominence.   If shopping and dining are your interests then Indianapolis is sure to please with its numerous shops and plentiful restaurants.  Sports events are abundant and you will find many opportunities to play or watch amateur and professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and tennis.  The famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to the Brickyard 400, Indianapolis 500, and SAP United States Grand Prix motor races.  Within the White River State Park, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, and Indiana State Museum await your exploration.  Greenfield is located 17 miles due east of the capital city and is only a short drive.  Greenfield preserves the best of small town America with its restored historic homes, folk festivals, and rural charm.   

Eligibility:  Veterinary students in the 3rd and 4th years of the curriculum at Schools/Colleges of Veterinary Medicine within North America are encouraged to apply.

Application Form:

For application forms, please refer to the webpages of the American College of Veterinary Pathology, the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology, or the Society of Toxicologic Pathology.
Duration of Externship:  3-4 weeks depending upon individual university schedules.

Stipend:  Eli Lilly and Company may be able to provide a stipend at the completion of the externship period to supplement the following expenses: housing while in Indianapolis area, travel to and from Indianapolis, meals, and rental car.  If necessary, direct billing of some expenses may be arranged for the convenience of the extern.
Application Process:  Students are welcome to apply for the externship beginning immediately and applications will be accepted until March 30, 2009.  These externships are awarded on a competitive basis.  Students will be selected based on the strength of application and availability of Lilly staff to accommodate student interests.  Application packages should include a completed application form, current curriculum vita, university transcript, letter of intent that describes related work experiences and future employment intentions, letter of reference from the student’s academic advisor, and one personal reference from an individual who is familiar with the applicant.  Applications should be received a minimum of three months prior to the desired dates of externship.  Send all application packages to the following address.

Externship in Veterinary Pathology
and Laboratory Animal Medicine
c/o K.K. Newport
Lilly Research Laboratories
P.O. Box 708  Drop Code GL 44
Greenfield, IN  46140

Externship Award:  Successful applicants will receive a letter of externship offer that specifies the dates of externship and contact host.  Upon receipt of the offer, the applicant will need to provide to Lilly Research Laboratories written proof of health insurance and results of tuberculosis testing prior to confirmation of the award.  Successful applicants will also be required to submit to drug testing and background checks prior to the externship period.  The applicant and university will be required to sign confidentiality agreements for visiting scientists prior to the externship period.

Questions or Problems with Your Application?  Call 317-277-4002, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday-Friday.   We will be happy to help you complete the application process.

Updated: 11/1/2007

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