Internship Equine Orthopaedics, Surgery & Anaesthesia

As an intern at the University Clinic for Equine Health, you will work together with dedicated specialists, residents, and students to deliver high-quality veterinary care for horses and other equids.

Your job
As an intern in Equine Orthopaedics, Surgery & Anaesthesia, you will primarily work, during daytime hours, within the Surgery and Anaesthesia team. After an initial induction period, you will be responsible for and deployable across the entire clinic during evening and night shifts, covering all departments (Surgery, Anaesthesia, Internal Medicine, Reproduction, and the Ambulatory Clinic). When necessary, you may also be assigned to one of the other departments at specific times.

Following the daily stable rounds with the specialists, you play a central role in the operational functioning of the Surgery and Anaesthesia department. Your activities are primarily focused on orthopaedic and surgical patients, including anaesthesiological and perioperative care. You also fulfil an important role in the guidance and supervision of master’s students, both during clinical duties and within clinical teaching.

Your tasks include, among others:

• Active participation in stable rounds, orthopaedic consultations, and pre- and postoperative patient care;
• Assisting with surgical procedures and intensive involvement in perioperative care;
• Supporting anaesthesia procedures and participating in anaesthesia duties, with targeted training and supervision;
• Performing common clinical procedures such as placing intravenous catheters, passing nasogastric tubes, administering medication, and changing bandages;
• Coordination and logistics of diagnostics, including laboratory samples and imaging studies;
• Supervising Veterinary master’s students in clinical skills and patient care;
• During evening and night shifts, you are responsible for the initial assessment and stabilisation of emergency patients, treatment of hospitalised patients, and supervision of on-call students.

We have state-of-the-art facilities, including extensive hospitalisation units and advanced imaging techniques such as MRI, CT, and radiography. In addition, there is a comprehensive programme of pioneering clinical and scientific research, including work in the field of gait analysis.

• You are eligible to work as a veterinarian in The Netherlands. Before applying please check you eligibility on the Dutch government website.
• You are a veterinarian with an interest in and experience with horses.
• You are highly motivated to further develop yourself in the field of equine medicine.
• You have a proactive, positive, enthusiastic and flexible attitude.
• You have good communication skills.

Due to the soon starting date of 1 April 2026, this vacancy is for EU applicants only.

• A position for a period of 18 months, starting date (close to) 1 April 2026.
• a working week of 36 - 40 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,546 and €5,538 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University also offers a range of its own schemes for employees. This includes arrangements for professional development, various types of leave, and options for sports and cultural activities. You can also tailor your employment conditions through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage you to keep investing in your personal and professional development. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

At the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine we train the veterinarians and researchers of the future, provide care for animals and conduct leading and societal relevant research. That is what we are good at. We see that the health and welfare of animals, humans and the environment are interconnected. By sharing our knowledge and working together, we make positive impact, both nationally and internationally. Our 1,500 students and 950 staff members inspire and strengthen each other. Our engagement connects us. The drive to, from an integral perspective, make the world a better place.

At the Department of Clinical Sciences, you will work alongside approximately 150 veterinarians and a similar number of support staff. Approximately two-thirds of the veterinarians are specialists in various disciplines; the remaining one-third consists of interns, residents and PhD students. Together we are responsible for the education of veterinary students, provision of clinical services to horses and companion animals, and both clinical and more fundamental research in the areas of regenerative medicine, locomotion, genetics and reproduction.

The University Clinic for Equine Health is one of the specialist clinics of the Academic Veterinary Hospital that delivers top-level veterinary care. We can offer this excellent care thanks to a unique combination of specialists, modern facilities and a comprehensive programme of clinical-scientific research. We try to immediately translate the latest scientific insights into patient care. Within the University Clinic for Equine Health, veterinarians from different disciplines work together intensively.

For more information, please contact Yteke Elte (Coordinating Team lead) at Y.Elte@uu.nl

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.