Summary

The California Medical Innovations Institute (CalMI2) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit biomedical research organization founded in July 2014 and headquartered in San Diego, California. CalMI2 operates as an "innovation engine," conducting basic and applied research to advance the translation of diagnostics and therapeutics for improving human health. The institute fosters a multidisciplinary, collaborative discovery environment that brings together physical and life science researchers, clinicians, engineers, and computational scientists. Its research focuses on major healthcare challenges including cardiovascular and vascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, lymphatic conditions, obesity, metabolic syndromes, and neurological disorders, approached through a multi-scale understanding of organ systems. Core expertise spans in vivo studies in animals and humans, computational modeling, bench testing, and histopathology. By collaborating closely with clinicians and industry partners, CalMI2 aims to shorten the path from scientific discovery to clinical application, serving as a bridge between laboratory science and clinical practice.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Surgical & Interventional Procedure Support

Assist medical doctors, veterinarians, and principal investigators during acute and chronic surgical, interventional, and catheterization procedures on large and small animal models, including pigs, dogs, rabbits, rats, and mice.
Prepare operating rooms, organize surgical trays, and ensure sterile fields and appropriate instrumentation for cardiovascular, GI, lymphatic, and endocrine studies.
Assist in animal positioning, physiological monitoring (ECG, blood pressure, airway dynamics), and anesthesia logging under veterinary oversight.

Pre- and Post-Operative Care

Manage pre-procedure preparation, including fasting schedules, pre-medication administration, and surgical site clipping/cleansing.
Monitor animals during post-operative recovery, including vital sign tracking, pain assessment, and administration of prescribed medications/treatments.
Maintain clear and accurate surgical logs, recovery records, and medical progress notes.

Daily Animal Care & Husbandry

Perform daily animal husbandry, feeding, health checks, and behavioral observation for research models in compliance with facility standards.
Collect blood, tissue, and biological fluid samples following study protocols and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) principles.
Support animal acclimation, handling, and habituation to minimize stress and ensure study compliance.

Technical Support & Laboratory Maintenance

Maintain, clean, sterilize, and inventory surgical tools, anesthesia machines, monitoring equipment, and lab consumables.
Ensure procedure rooms and holding facilities are sanitized and prepared in accordance with institutional guidelines.
Assist with specimen processing, tissue harvesting, and preliminary lab testing/storage.

Compliance & Teamwork

Strictly adhere to IACUC protocols, Institutional Safety Guidelines, USDA regulations, and GLP standards.
Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams including scientists, surgeons, veterinarians, and laboratory personnel.
Demonstrate flexibility in adopting new experimental procedures, handling various species, and fulfilling additional operational duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in Biology, Animal Science, Health Sciences, or a related field.
Availability & Schedule: Available for an immediate start. Weekend and holiday work is required.
Experience: Open to recent graduates as well as experienced candidates. Prior hands-on lab or animal care experience is a plus, but comprehensive training will be provided.
Key Traits: Adaptable, eager to learn new technical skills, strong work ethic, and attention to detail.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Exposure to animal allergens and repetitive motion.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift up to 50 lbs individually, and team-lift up to 250 lbs.
Required immunizations/screenings based on species exposure (e.g., Tetanus, Rabies, TB, MMR, Hepatitis B).

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Biology, Animal Science, Health Sciences, or a related field
Available for an immediate start
Weekend and holiday work required
Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift up to 50 lbs individually and team-lift up to 250 lbs
Required immunizations/screenings based on species exposure (Tetanus, Rabies, TB, MMR, Hepatitis B)

Benefits

Medical, Dental & Vision
AD&D Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
Comprehensive Training
H-1B Visa Sponsorship
Green Card Sponsorship

Company overview

The California Medical Innovations Institute (CalMI2) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit biomedical research organization founded in July 2014 and headquartered in San Diego, California. CalMI2 operates as an "innovation engine," conducting basic and applied research to advance the translation of diagnostics and therapeutics for improving human health. The institute fosters a multidisciplinary, collaborative discovery environment that brings together physical and life science researchers, clinicians, engineers, and computational scientists. Its research focuses on major healthcare challenges including cardiovascular and vascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, lymphatic conditions, obesity, metabolic syndromes, and neurological disorders, approached through a multi-scale understanding of organ systems. Core expertise spans in vivo studies in animals and humans, computational modeling, bench testing, and histopathology. By collaborating closely with clinicians and industry partners, CalMI2 aims to shorten the path from scientific discovery to clinical application, serving as a bridge between laboratory science and clinical practice.