Photo by Daniel Reidel.

If you’re a student who’s always dreamed about working at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, today is your lucky day. Well, actually next Thursday is. On June 26, the Zoo is hosting a career event for high school students, college students, and post-grad students interested in animal health. Bonus: This may be the first step to becoming BFFs with the Zoo’s famed baby panda Bao Bao.

According to a release, the career fair will take place from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Zoo’s Visitor Center auditorium. You’ll be able to talk to Zoo staff about the different career opportunities and insider stuff like if you get to hang out and play with the animals all day (I kid, I kid). On the real, though, if you’ve ever been interested in what I imagine is probably one of the best/most fun jobs in D.C., and you’re interested in a career in animal care, you should probably sign up to attend (it’s free).

For students considering an animal science or veterinary medicine degree, this program is a great opportunity to ask questions directly to leaders in the field of animal health and conservation. At this event, four National Zoo professionals will discuss what it takes to maintain the health of the over 2,000 animals residing at the Zoo. While animal health will be the primary topic of discussion, we will also have the opportunity to talk about wildlife conservation and offer advice to aspiring zoo professionals. Before and after the discussion, registered participants will have the opportunity to view posters featuring some of the research conducted at the National Zoo and Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.