Summer Intern – Pharmacogenomics Data Science & Genomic Prediction (VMRD)
Zoetis
Summary
Zoetis Precision Animal Health - Veterinary Medicine Research & Development (PAH VMRD) is seeking a summer intern to support a pharmacogenomic project, a novel platform exploring how genetic variation influences treatment response in livestock. The intern will work directly with the project team lead to mine and integrate dairy cattle health and treatment datasets, define treatment response phenotypes for mastitis, and develop proof-of-concept genomic prediction models contributing to a first-of-its-kind pharmacogenomic decision support system for animal health.
Job description
Internship Job Duties
- Extract, clean, and integrate clinical treatment records and health event data from dairy herd management systems (e.g., Dairy Comp 305) and link with existing genotype data to build analysis-ready datasets.
- Define and construct treatment response phenotypes for mastitis/bovine respiratory disease, including clinical cure, bacteriological cure, relapse, recurrence.
- Evaluate existing SNP panel and sequence data to identify DNA markers and candidate genomic regions with potential predictive value for mastitis/bovine respiratory disease treatment outcomes.
- Develop and test proof-of-concept genomic prediction models (e.g., GBLUP, BayesR, or machine learning approaches) for treatment response traits, including preliminary accuracy and heritability estimates.
Requirements
- Currently enrolled in a Master's or PhD program in Animal Science, Quantitative Genetics, Animal Breeding & Genomics, Bioinformatics, or a closely related field.
- Experience with genomic data analysis, including GWAS, genomic prediction, and/or variance component estimation using mixed models.
- Proficiency in at least one programming or statistical environment (R, Python, SAS, or equivalent) for large-scale data manipulation and analysis.
- Familiarity with livestock health data, dairy herd management systems, or genomic selection concepts is strongly preferred.
- Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and present results to a cross-functional team.
Company overview
Zoetis is a global leader in animal health, dedicated to advancing care for animals and the people who care for them. Originally established as the animal health division of Pfizer, Zoetis became an independent public company in 2013. The company develops, manufactures, and commercializes a comprehensive portfolio of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and other health products for both livestock and companion animals. With operations in more than 100 countries, Zoetis serves veterinarians, livestock producers, and pet owners worldwide. The company's product portfolio includes anti-infectives, vaccines, parasiticides, dermatology products, and other therapeutic solutions. Zoetis invests significantly in research and development to address unmet medical needs in animal health, focusing on areas such as pain management, infectious diseases, and chronic conditions. The company's commitment to innovation and quality has established it as a trusted partner in the animal health industry, contributing to food security and the well-being of companion animals globally.