Student Education

The WDA has a long history of strongly promoting and supporting students in their educational goals involving wildlife health issues. WDA Student Awards The Wildlife Disease Association offers a scholarship and two awards to encourage student participation in the Association and our annual conference.

• Wildlife Disease Association Scholarship: Awarded annually to a student who is pursuing master’s or doctoral degree specializing in research on wildlife disease.
• Wildlife Disease Graduate Student Research Recognition Award: Awarded annually to the student judged to have the best research project in the field of wildlife disease.
• Terry Amundson Student Presentation Award: Awarded annually acknowledging the most outstanding oral presentation of research findings at the WDA meeting.
• WDA Student Poster Competition: Awarded annually acknowledging the most outstanding poster presentation of research findings at the WDA meeting.

For more detailed information on these awards, please click here.

Student Career Choices

Scientists approach the problem of disease in wildlife populations from all angles. While the diversity enables students to pursue their own special interests within the wildlife disease world, it can make choosing a career path somewhat daunting. It is our hope that the WDA can help in choosing that path. For more information on this topic, please click here.

Student Activities

Student Mixer: Each year, a student mixer is held one evening during the WDA meeting. This provides students the opportunity to identify and meet one another in a relaxed social atmosphere. This is an occasion for exchanging stories about research, giving and receiving advice about degree programs and professors, asking questions, sharing experiences, and of course drinking and eating! So keep an eye out for the Student Mixer in the Conference Program.

Student on Council: The student on council serves a two-year term and is an active part of the WDA council. This student attends all council meetings held at annual WDA conferences as well as taking part in teleconferences and email discussions and planning throughout the year. The student on council is also the Chair of the Student Activities Committee and ensures that students’ interests are well represented within WDA. Students are elected to this position, along with the other member of council, by mail ballot. This position is an excellent opportunity to interact with other WDA members, learn how a professional organization is run, and become a part of all the planning and hard work that goes in to making WDA a great association.

Students in Volunteer Roles: Students now serve on most committees of the Wildlife Disease Association and our current website editor and full voting member of Council is a student.

The organizing committees of some annual conferences have scheduled student/mentor sessions where they pair student members with experienced members for an exchange of ideas.

Funds raised at the annual auction that occurs at the Association and some Section conferences often is directed to support student activities.

Student Chapters of the WDA

Information on how to start a student chapter as well as information on existing student chapters.