Research Laboratory Assistant

Position Purpose

To assist staff and research personnel in maintaining the animal research populations. This position requires direct contact with animals and exposure to animal feces, urine, blood, etc., and those infectious and biohazardous agents used in the research projects.

Job Duties

• Must be able to lift and transport equipment and supplies weighing up to or having a push/pull force of > 50 lbs.
• Possess the skills and abilities required to provide the proper husbandry, health and medical care and use of animal species commonly used in biomedical research.
• Operate and maintain all equipment (e.g. autoclave, tunnel washer, high pressure power hose, etc.) according to standard operating procedures to provide proper sanitation and/or sterilization.
• Provide assistance to co-workers, investigators, and supervisors as required.
• Perform daily animal husbandry functions (changing dirty animal cages) to ensure proper primary housing (e.g. clean cage, new bedding, fresh food and water) for all assigned species and replenish housing supplies, according to standard operating procedures.
• Properly handle all assigned laboratory species for cleaning, identification, manipulation, and/or treatment.
• Maintain assigned rooms in sanitary conditions according to standard operating procedures.
• Perform daily and periodic sanitization schedules for animal rooms and all necessary equipment.
• Provide anesthesia clinical instruction and supervision to research staff.
• Perform various types of clinical services relating to anesthesia for research or teaching-purpose animals.
• Monitor inventory/supplies and order when necessary.
• Perform record keeping tasks.
• Assist staff clinicians with various research projects.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required.
• Must be well organized, detail oriented, possess a strong work ethic, have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and be familiar working with computer word processing, databases, and spreadsheets.
• Must have a working knowledge of the regulations and standards governing the care and use of research animals.
• Must be able to work with diversified professional and technical personnel and perform their duties independently and with minimum supervision.
• Basic knowledge and interest in laboratory animals
• Basic knowledge in animal physiology and behavior
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions