Laboratory Animal Technician

Job Summary

This position will assist in accurately and efficiently conducting animal studies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Administer doses of compounds to rats and mice via common dosing routes, including oral, intravenous, subcutaneous, and intraperitoneal.
• Perform data collections, including weighing, clinical observations, health assessments, post operative monitoring, and disease progression scoring.
• Perform blood collections from rats and mice via tail vein, retro-orbital, and terminal blood draws.
• Process whole blood collection via centrifugation for plasma and/or serum.
• Perform behavioral testing (Gait analysis, Von Frey, and Dynamic Weight Bearing testing, etc.).
• Assist in formulating experimental compounds for administration.
• Assist in rodent surgeries.
• Independently troubleshoot technical issues and escalate study concerns to supervisors or investigators as appropriate.
• Take ownership of assigned study components, ensuring timelines and data quality are upheld.
• Review and verify data from junior staff for accuracy and completeness.
• Keep laboratory clean and stocked with supplies.
• Use various software applications sustained by a Windows platform (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Use general laboratory equipment, including balances, syringes and needles, blood collection tubes, centrifuges, pipettes, formalin collection jars, liquid nitrogen, -80 freezers, incubators, fluid/syringe pumps, chemical and clean hoods, PPE, quarantine/isolation rooms, autoclaves, and necropsy hand tools.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrates a working knowledge and awareness of general laboratory procedures.
• Demonstrates an ability to follow detailed instructions with a sense for scientific method.
• Demonstrates initiative in improving techniques, workflows, and team performance.
• Demonstrates an ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Demonstrates an ability to use computer software to compile and maintain study data and reports for study records and sample inventory.
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and exhibits respect for co-workers, managers, and other employees.
• Exhibits accuracy performing laboratory operations.
• Exhibits good written and oral communication skills.
• Maintains a commitment to adhere to all safety regulations and procedures.
• Maintains suitable organizational skills.

Education & Experience

• B.S./B.A. in science (biology or equivalent) with 2+ years direct laboratory animal work experience, or Associate degree with 4+ years direct laboratory animal work experience, or 8+ years of direct laboratory animal work experience without a college science degree, or equivalent combination of related education and required work experience will be considered with management approval.
• Preferred animal laboratory research experience with mice and rats, including dosing, in-life sample collections, and necropsy collections.