Program

North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine proudly sponsors an ACLAM-recognized residency in Laboratory Animal Medicine. This three-year program is a collaborative training in laboratory animal and comparative medicine situated in North Carolina’s Research Triangle. Residents receive primary clinical training at NCSU with externships and didactic training achieved through a unique partnership with Duke University, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, thus allowing residents gain comprehensive experiences across multiple world-class institutions. 

Training and Mentorship

Residents train under the guidance of 20+ ACLAM and 4 ACVP diplomates, while also engaging with a broad community of laboratory animal professionals across the Triangle. The program blends hands-on clinical practice, didactic learning, and mentored research, offering exposure to a wide variety of animal species and institutional settings.

Most supervised practice takes place at NC State, with additional rotations across partnering institutions and affiliates. In these roles, residents participate fully in the responsibilities of a Clinical Laboratory Animal Veterinarian, including:

• Clinical care, disease diagnosis, and treatment
• Preventive medicine
• Oversight of animal care and use programs (including IACUC activities)
• Animal resource management and facility operations
• Direct collaboration with researchers

Unique Opportunities at NC State

NC State’s animal program spans the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Science, and the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), creating an exceptional training environment that bridges both agricultural and biomedical research.

Residents gain experience working with a wide variety of species including:

• Traditional laboratory animals (rodents, rabbits, canines, felines)
• Agricultural species (swine, cattle, small ruminants, poultry, horses)
• Aquatic and exotic species (fish, amphibians, reptiles, avian species)

Primary training is based within the CVM’s Animal Resources Department, which includes:

• Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR)
• Teaching Animal Unit (TAU)
• Reedy Creek Farm (RCF)

This breadth of exposure allows residents to interact with academic veterinarians across specialties, further enhancing their comparative medicine expertise.

Scholarly Development

Alongside clinical training, residents participate in weekly didactic sessions aligned with the ACLAM Role Delineation Document and complete a mentored research project suitable for first-author publication. Protected time is provided for these activities and ACLAM board preparation (for exam eligible trainees).  This balance of clinical, administrative, and scholarly training prepares residents for successful careers in laboratory animal medicine.

Questions About the Program

Please send questions by email to Dr. Marnie Metzler ([email protected]), the Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency Program Director or Dr. Jenny Estes ([email protected]), the Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency Program Assistant Director.