Description:
Animal Care Technician
Performs animal husbandry and health care in accordance with experimental protocol and Animal Welfare Act/Regulations, NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Guide for the Care and use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching, Veterinary Sciences standard operating procedures, and the fundamental requirements for AAALAC accreditation. In addition, this individual assists with scientific procedures in accordance with study protocols, completes and maintains appropriate documentation associated with all job assignments, and provides equipment sanitation and facility maintenance. This individual will work in an animal research laboratory setting under Biosafety conditions.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Complies with applicable regulations and company policies. Documents and maintains records of animal care, preventive medicine, USDA-required, and study protocol-driven documents. Provides animal husbandry and care including provision of feed, water, and enrichment materials. Maintains, adjusts, and repairs animal pens, feeders, drinking systems, and livestock handling equipment. Performs cleaning and sanitation of animal rooms and equipment.
- Recognizes when animals are sick, distressed or otherwise abnormal and communicates these observations to the Site Veterinarian or Group/Team Leader. Conducts daily animal health and welfare assessments.
- Conducts scientific clinical observations and assessments.
- May perform site biosecurity functions including water system sanitation, bagged feed and fomite decontamination, and environmental auditing sample collection.
- Assists with clinical R&D sample collection in accordance with study protocols and direction of Investigator or delegate
Skills
Requirements:
- This position requires a High School diploma or equivalent degree (GED) and a minimum of two (2) years experience in a related field. Such fields may include livestock handling, husbandry, and healthcare, veterinary clinical assistance, and/or scientific animal research. This related experience may be obtained concurrent with the diploma/degree.
- This person should either already possess or be willing to obtain Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification, preferably within 12 months of employment. Certification timelines will be dependent upon prior education and experience.