Animal Technician, Containment Laboratory

About the role

The Animal Technician, Containment Laboratory is a position at the Global Health Research Complex (GHRC), a biocontainment facility at Texas A&M University. This position is responsible for performing all aspects of daily animal care and animal husbandry in ABSL-2 and BSL3-Ag environments; monitoring and recording environmental parameters and conditions; and performing other related duties.

Responsibilities

• Performs daily animal care and husbandry duties for research animals in a bio-containment facility including feeding, watering, animal handling/transport, animal health checks, providing enrichment and environmental monitoring.
• Decontaminates, cleans, and sanitizes animal rooms, ancillary areas, primary enclosures and caging equipment following established procedures and schedules.
• Operates equipment such as autoclaves, chemical foamer/sprayers, and pressure washers.
• May perform technical services such as blood, tissue, urine/feces collection, administering prophylactic treatments and injections.
• Aids with animal handling and restraint for tissue collections.
• Maintains and stocks appropriate supplies such as animal feed and PPE for the animal rooms; assists with facility laundry as needed.
• Assists with the disinfection of necropsy spaces; assists with carcass disposal in the on-site tissue digester.
• Performs weekend and holiday duties as scheduled; and other duties as assigned.
• Provides assistance and resources to facility users and departmental staff.

Requirements

• Associates degree in an agricultural or animal-related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three years’ experience with large animal species such as cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats.
• Prior experience in a biocontainment program (BSL-2, ABSL-2, BSL-3, ABSL-3, or BSL-3Ag).
• Prior experience working with wildlife species.
• Must be able to successfully obtain Biological Select Agent and Toxin certification.
• American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) certification.
• Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Associates degree in an agricultural or animal-related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor of Science in an Agricultural or animal-related field.

Skills

• Ability to handle, restrain, clinically observe and identify health concerns in a wide range of large animal species.
• Ability to multi-task and work cooperatively with others.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively to ensure understanding.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain professional working relationships with people.

Benefits

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time.
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more.
• Tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee.
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees.

Pay

Compensation will be commensurate to the selected hire’s experience.

Schedule

This job has a potential for safety hazard exposures and infectious disease exposures and requires the ability to work sometimes under challenging conditions (high humidity/temperature, unpleasant odors, animal excreta and noise). May be required to take several showers each day, is required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and stand for prolonged periods of time. Must have the physical ability to lift or move heavy loads.