2017 Undergraduate Travel Assistance Award

For any undergraduates interested in attending the 147th AFS Annual Meeting in Tampa, the Student Subsection of Education Section of the American Fisheries Society is offering a scholarship to undergraduates. More information can be found here.

Student and early career workshop at the upcoming FHS/EFHW meeting

Students and early professionals attending the AFS-FHS Meeting and/or the EFHW are invited to attend the ‘Embark on Successful Career in Fish Health’ workshop. This workshop will be held on Monday, April 3^rd, from 5 - 6:30 pm (location TBA).

We’ve invited three accomplished members of the fish health community to speak on topics relevant to students and early career members. Each speaker will give a 15 minute presentation with a panel Q+A session to follow.

Publishing piscatorial papers: Dos and don’ts

Jeffrey C. Wolf, Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Journal of Aquatic Animal Health Editor

                               

Research funding: Where to find it and how to get it

James R. Winton, USGS Western Fisheries Research Center

Successful navigation of the graduate school journey

Ron Thune, Professor, Louisiana State University                             

Hope to see everyone there! 

Scholarship opportunities

There are two new scholarship opportunities that will be of interest to our members. For more information, see below.

American Association of Fish Veterinarians (AAFV) Scholarships

The American Association of Fish Veterinarians (AAFV) recognizes the burgeoning cost of veterinary education coupled with the fact that most veterinary schools do not provide training in aquatic veterinary medicine. Thus, the AAFV Student Scholarship Program has been established to assist veterinary students in their quest to increase their experience and training in aquatic veterinary medicine, specifically fish. This includes, but is not limited to, participating in aquatic programs, short courses, externships, conferences and presentations and research projects. The AAFV Executive Board and Student Scholarship Committee has set the amount for each scholarship at $500. The number of scholarships offered each year will be dependent on available funds. Scholarships will be presented once a calendar year and need to be used within one year of being awarded.

For more information on these scholarships, eligibility, and application procedures, please visiti the following website: http://www.fishvets.org/pages/category.asp?id=39

Merck Animal Health Champions Young Aquaculture Leaders with New Salmon Science Award

Merck Animal Health (known as MSD Animal Health outside the US and Canada) is proud to announce the introduction of the High Quality Salmon Science Award supporting research in salmon health and welfare by tomorrow’s industry leaders. Starting this year, Merck Animal Health will award one recent graduate in veterinary or animal science the opportunity to present their research to an impressive number of industry specialists at an upcoming Merck Animal Health High Quality Salmon meeting in Scotland, UK.

Applications are due by April 7^th, 2017.

For more information on this award, please visit the following website: http://www.merck-animal-health.com/news/2017-3-27.aspx

Joint Meeting of FHS and Great Lakes Fish Health Commission followed by Eastern Fish Health Workshop

More information has been made available for the upcoming American Fisheries Society-Fish Health Section and Great Lakes Fishery Commission-Fish Health Committee Joint Meeting and the Eastern Fish Disease Workshop which are being held back to back in Lansing, MI in April 2017.

Final Announcement for the American Fisheries Society Fish Health Section and Great Lakes Fishery Commission - Fish Health Committee (GLFC-FHC) Joint Meeting

Instructions for poster presentations

Shuttle information for the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center

2017 Snieszko Student Travel Awards

For students (undergraduate, graduate, or veterinary) and postdocs interested in presenting at the 2017 Fish Health Section Annual Meeting in April, please see the attached flyer for more information about Snieszko travel awards. 

In addition, prizes will be awarded for both oral and poster presentations. 

Students and young professionals planning on attending this meeting, please keep your eye on this space as there will be more information published soon including the room share document.

Job posting

There's a great job opportunity in Oregon that we wanted to make sure students and early career members are aware of.

The job posting can be found here, https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/oregon/jobs/1368228/natural-resource-specialist-3-fish-health-specialist.

It closes on April 8th at 11:59 pm..

Student Profile: Danielle Van Vliet

Danielle is a graduate student at Michigan State University studying bacterial coldwater disease in the Great Lakes.

1. What is your current research/position?
I’m currently a PhD candidate in the Aquatic Animal Health Lab at Michigan State University working with Dr. Mohamed Faisal. My research focuses on multiple epidemiological aspects of Flavobacterium psychrophilum, particularly as is relates to infections of Great Lakes basin salmonid populations.

2. What sparked your interest in aquatic animal health?
As an undergraduate at Michigan State University I had a strong interest in animal medicine and was sure I would pursue veterinary school. I discovered the Fisheries and Wildlife department at MSU, where I recognized another main interest of mine, natural resource management. Fortunately for me, Dr. Faisal teaches a Fisheries and Wildlife Disease Ecology course, where my two strongest interests were really allowed to mix: natural resource management and animal health. It was a fateful semester where I discovered aquatic animal health, Dr. Faisal, and his lab.

3. What has been your favorite fisheries-related job?
I don’t have much employment experience as I jumped right into graduate school after completing my Bachelor’s in 2011, however, I will say some of my favorite days in the lab are when we get to work on some of my favorite fish species, including wild muskellunge broodstock. We do all the fish health inspections for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, through this I have been able to visit the operating weirs in the state, as well as all State fish hatcheries, which has given me further appreciation for the fishery conservation programs in the Great Lakes.

4. What do you like most about graduate/professional school?
My favorite thing is coming to work every day and being surrounded by people with the exact same interests (and maybe weirdness) as myself. The lab family at the AAHL is unlike any other group of people I have ever met, and every single one of them make the treacherous journey of graduate school a little more manageable. I also really enjoy attending professional conferences where I can meet even more likeminded “fish people”. An unexpected enjoy that I’ve discovered during graduate school is teaching. It’s really quite an experience to be on the other side of the classroom.

5. When and why did you first become involved with AFS and the FHS?
My first summer as a grad student I attended the AFS FHS meeting in LaCrosse Wisconsin with a labmate. I was welcomed by everyone, and really felt like a part of a wonderful group, even as a first year student. I continue to maintain involvement with AFS and FHS because of the wonderful collaboration that comes from friendships forged through these groups.

6. What are your long-term professional goals (FHS or otherwise)?
As my graduate career comes to an end, I’m looking forward to the next step. The options are endless, however I hope to continue in fish health and disease ecology and management. My love for research and lab work will never cease, and an opportunity that allows me to mix both field work and lab work would be wonderful. I plan on maintaining a relationship with the FHS and fish health community for many years to come.