Senior Animal Technician, Animal Resource Center - Service Department (Galveston)

About the role

Institution: UT Medical Branch at Galveston

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school or equivalent and four years laboratory animal experience.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS

Required:

• AALAS LAT certified or exam eligible (must successfully pass exam within 6 months of start date)

JOB SUMMARY

To assist in providing care of laboratory animals in a humane, safe and sanitary manner including duties associated using appropriate equipment and established procedures.

JOB DUTIES

• Provides daily husbandry care, including feeding and watering, for all species.

• Changes and sanitizes animal caging as scheduled.

• Maintains enrichment program as specified for each species.

• Sanitizes rooms, equipment and hallways as scheduled.

• Documents daily, weekly and monthly duties accurately.

• Observes animals for behavior change and/or evidence of disease and notifies veterinary staff as appropriate.

• Assists in the maintenance of animal medical records.

• Administers treatments and assists with technical support as needed.

• Receives transports and distributes incoming animals as specified.

• Assists in high-level tasks of the census program, including receiving animal orders, monthly inventory and generating cage cards.

• Provides specialized animal care, including quarantine, biohazard and sterile housing.

• Ensures equipment in animal rooms are functioning properly.

• Assist supervisor with coordination of equipment repairs and maintenance.

• Assists with maintenance and documentation of breeding colonies.

• Trains and mentors on husbandry procedures.

• In cooperation with the supervisor, provides oversight of daily operation of the husbandry operations.

• Serves as Team Lead in supervisor’s absence.

• Maintains equipment inventories.

• Functions as a Veterinary Assistant:

  • Administers veterinary treatments as directed.
  • Provides technical support.
  • Participates in daily veterinary rounds and health checks.
  • Collects samples and processes diagnostic tests.
  • Monitors and cares for pre-operative and post-operative veterinary patients.
  • Performs anesthetic induction, maintenance and monitoring.
  • Cleans and sets up operating room and surgical packs.
  • Operates and maintains medical and surgical equipment.
  • Maintains surgical and veterinary records.
• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.
• Attends in-house training programs to become more knowledgeable in the field of laboratory animal science.
• Provides superior customer service.
• Follows safety precautions and wears correct protective equipment.
• Follows rules and regulations related to laboratory animal care.

Marginal or Periodic Functions: (Two below are most common functions/duties seen in this section.)

• Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure.

• Performs related duties as required.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT 

• Standard research facility environment.
• Work weekends, holidays, and some overtime when needed.
• Lifting may be heavy and awkward, up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent contact with animal allergens, such as hair and dander.
• Frequent exposure to animal odors, heat and humidity from cage washing rooms, and chemicals used in the cleaning process
• Possible contact with zoonotic diseases and or research materials could be hazardous to a fetus.

• Potential exposure to radiation and biohazards.

WORKING EQUIPMENT 

• Industrial type cage and rack washers, autoclaves, pallet jacks, animal caging and racks.
• Support equipment used in a laboratory animal science multi-species facility and standard office equipment.
• Standard office, laboratory, and veterinary equipment. 

SALARY RANGE:

Commensurate with experience.