HUSBANDRY TECHNICIAN I

Cage Room Duties

• Refills water bottles; operates the automatic bottle filler machine
• Removes and disposes of soiled bedding in used rodent cages
• Organizes the cleaned caging and accessories
• Adds nesting material to bedding filled cages
• Performs other cleaning duties in vivarium support areas such as mopping floors, cleaning windows and counters
• Restocks supplies as needed in cage washrooms and support areas
• Participates in required EH&S and Animal Resources training courses
• May perform euthanasia on rodents
• Prepares cleaning solutions and labels stock solutions with preparation date
• Receives and rotates animal feed and bedding; labels feed barrels with the feed type, feed mill date, bag opened and expiration date

Husbandry Duties

• Performs the weekend animal health checks (Sat and Sun) and some holidays
• Reports findings of observed animal health conditions to the Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) assigned to the room and to the research contact, via text or email
• Completes animal status forms with findings of newborn litters; sick or dead mice
• Checks all cages for adequate food and water levels; and replenishes feed and changes out the water bottle when the volume is low
• Changes cages with excess moisture due to a flooded or leaky water bottle
• Changes cages when scheduled by the manager
• Checks animal ventilated racks for proper air flow
• Maintains animal room activity logs and husbandry records for work performed
• Sweep and mop floors after husbandry duties (cage changing)
• Restock room supplies and maintains common use storage and procedure support areas
• Contact Managers for all emergencies, such as power outages, floods, and animal welfare concerns

Education and/or Experience

• High School diploma

Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities

• Ability to pass post-employment physical as required by OLAW (Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare)
• Ability to work in environment which contains animal dander and dust particles
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with arms, wrists and hands; regular bending and lifting, sitting and standing on hard floor surfaces and pushing and pulling of carts loaded with caging and accessories
• Ability to lift and stack feed and bedding bags up to 40 pounds
• Must wear institute supplied scrubs, face mask, shoe covers and hair bonnet as well as other task-related personnel protective equipment including face shield or goggles, heat resistant autoclave gloves, nitrile or chemical resistant gloves, apron, and back support belt
• Ability to work Sat and Sun on a regular basis
• Work independently as well as in a team environment
• Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
• Possess good time management and organizational skills
• Adhere to department and institute safety and occupational health policies and procedures while demonstrating competency in safety protocols
• Maintain compliance with all training requirements
• Professional proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook (email)

Work Location

This is an onsite position; candidates must be willing to work onsite in San Diego. Out-of-state applicants must disclose their willingness to relocate.

Compensation

The expected compensation for this position is $21/hour commensurate with experience.