Lab Animal Veterinary Tech 1

About the role

The Research Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technician assists the Veterinarians in the Division of Laboratory Animal Services with ensuring the proper and humane care of a variety of laboratory animals housed at Augusta University. They also assist research staff with proper rodent surgical technique, experimental procedures, and breeding management.

Responsibilities

• Observes and examines experimental animals. Recognizes signs of abnormal behavior, illness, or injury, and consults with the veterinary staff.
• Maintain animal health records.
• Performs common veterinary diagnostic procedures, such as blood sampling, urine collection and analysis, fecal examinations, skin scrapings, and necropsies.
• Prepares samples for shipping to the appropriate laboratories when necessary.
• Collects and analyzes a variety of samples from animals monitored in the Animal Health Surveillance Program.
• Provides complex animal care using common veterinary technology practices and performs technical procedures in support of specialized research projects.
• Performs common treatments and procedures, including animal preparation for surgery, catheter placement, intubation, monitoring of anesthesia, calculation and administration of medication and/or fluids via oral or parenteral routes.
• Calculates drug dosages, prepares, and dispenses limited drugs and anesthetics to investigators.
• Administers and maintains anesthesia for induction, intubation, maintenance, and recovery.
• Operates a variety of equipment, including gas anesthetic machines, ventilators, pulse oximeters, and blood pressure, ECG, and CO2 monitors.
• Coordinates surgical activity in central and satellite facilities, prepares the surgical area for sterile and non-sterile procedures, and administers anesthesia.
• Drives department vehicles, operates equipment, and performs miscellaneous duties necessary to support the animal care and research support mission.
• Available to work occasional weekends, and/or provide on-call service or a rotation schedule as needed to support animal care responsibilities.
• Provide rodent Surgical expertise to research staff and assist with oversight of rodent breeding management.
• Assists in the training of clinical and research personnel and members of the Division of Laboratory Animal Services via direct interactions or in class situations.
• Handles animals that have been exposed to chemical, pathogenic, or radioactive hazards and follows safety instructions for personal protection as well as protection of other personnel and animals.
• Handles and cares for animals in specialized colonies, including gnotobiotic, specific-pathogen-free, transgenic, or barrier-reared animals.
• Performs animal husbandry duties as necessary, including changing, sanitization, and sterilization of cages and accessory equipment, feeding, watering, and exercising of animals.
• Follows standard operating procedures to minimize cross-contamination of potential pathogens between colonies.

Requirements

• Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in Animal Science or related field and one year of veterinary technician experience OR High School diploma, GED, or equivalent from a recognized State or Federal accrediting organization, and a minimum of two years as a private practice veterinary technician or one year as a laboratory animal medicine veterinary technician.
• Valid driver's license required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge and understanding of animal health, husbandry, and behavior.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to laboratory animals.
• Skilled in making careful visual observations.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong time management, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Willingness and ability to work with research animals.
• Ability to work semi-independently and work a flexible schedule.

SkillsProficient in Microsoft Office and other computer software/databases.

Benefits

Shift: Days: Monday - Friday (Work occasional weekends, and/or provide on-call service or a rotation schedule)
Pay Band: B6
Salary: $18.85/hourly - $20.83/hourly
Salary to be commensurate with qualifications of the selected candidate within the established range (generally minimum-midpoint) of the position
Recruitment Period: Until Filled

Augusta University offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees.
Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays.

Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program. Consider applying with us today!

Conditions of Employment:
All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Augusta University.
If applicable for the specific position based on the duties: the candidate will also need to have a credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage.
Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive an Augusta University vehicle.

For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive [patient, student, employee, financial, business, etc.] information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond.

Driver's License Statement:
The Human Resources Division will request a driver's history report for the identified top candidate(s) for this position. We will initiate this through our Background Check Vendor; this report will come from the Department of Motor Vehicles. The selected candidate must have a valid driver's license.

Other Information:
This position is also responsible for promoting a customer-friendly environment and providing superior service to our patients.