Animal Facility Assistant (Research Animal Resources)

About the role

We are seeking an Animal Facility Assistant who will be an important member of the research team in providing the highest standards of animal care, welfare, and technical assistance in support of research initiatives. Works independently in tasks that are routine yet complex. Conducts work in accordance with several policies including the USDA Animal Welfare Act, the ILAR Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Johns Hopkins University and the Animal Care and Use Committee policies, and the standard operating procedures for the animal facility. This is a Bargaining Unit position. All newly hired employees in Bargaining Unit positions shall be considered “probationary” employees until completion of 90 calendar days of employment. The university will notify the employees’ union.

Responsibilities

• Perform all the tasks of the Animal Cage Washer as needed.
• Clean, sanitize and sterilize animal cages, feeders, water bottles, animal rooms, support space and related equipment.
• Fill animal feeders, bowls and water bottles or other containers with the appropriate types and amounts of food and drinking water in accordance with schedules and detailed instructions.
• Use aseptic technique and disease prevention principles in a Class I or Class II biological safety cabinet.
• Remove animals from soiled cages and transfers them to clean, sterilized cages in accordance with schedules and detailed instructions.
• Work under isolation conditions using specialized caging units such as micro-isolation cages and individually ventilated cage systems while adhering to aseptic techniques and disease prevention principles.
• Place bedding, feed, water bottles, etc. into assembled, sanitized cages.
• Observe and report to supervisor signs of animal injuries, illness or irregularities in appearance, health and environment such as abnormal food consumption, death, abnormal stool or unusual behavior.
• Assist in providing routine treatments as instructed including procedures such as ear mite medication, clipping overgrown teeth, etc.
• Perform euthanasia following detailed training and instructions.
• Receive and process incoming animals and materials. Assist in examining incoming animals for compliance with specifications, rejecting unsuitable animals and referring questionable cases to the supervisor.
• Assist in maintaining colonies of genetically altered rodents and may be required to perform data collection.
• Maintain accurate records of the numbers and types of animals cared for and the animal's food and water consumption.
• Calculate the animal census.
• Maintain detailed records of animal room environmental factors