Vivarium Technician IV

Role Summary

Responsible for animal husbandry and housekeeping of animal holding and support areas. The Vivarium Technician IV assists and supports the daily activities for the in vivo pharmacology program.

Responsibilities

• Maintains animal husbandry and housekeeping of animal holding and support areas.
• Performs routine dosing and blood collection in mice and rats via multiple routes as well as tissue harvest and daily health monitoring, including on weekends as needed.
• Provides additional support including, but not limited to, shaving fur, taking body weight, re-housing animals, euthanizing animals, plasma/serum collection, etc.
• Performs clinical observations of animals daily and reports to management and research staff.
• Sets up, receives, and identifies incoming animals.
• Maintains records and archives/files appropriately.
• Prepares routine media, reagents, and custom solutions for use by department and other research staff.
• Stocks and distributes laboratory supplies and equipment for assigned department.
• Performs general laboratory maintenance including collecting, washing and storing procedure tools, arranging and dismantling laboratory apparatus and operating husbandry equipment.
• Complies with company health and safety policies and general laboratory practices.
• Other duties as requested.
• Willing and able to work weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• Required: High school diploma or GED and a minimum of 7 years related experience; or AA degree and a minimum of 5 years related experience; or BS degree and a minimum of 3 years related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferred: AALAS certification.

Experience

• Experience with animal facility housekeeping, safety, inventory procedures and record keeping.
• Experience with receiving and caging animals.
• Experience with in vivo techniques including IV, IP, SC, PO and blood collection techniques (tail vein, submandibular, cardiac puncture, etc.), and organ harvesting from small laboratory animals.
• Basic experience working with computers including MS Word and MS Excel required.

Skills

• Basic knowledge of animal handling techniques, theories, and practices.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Writes simple correspondences and effectively presents information in one-on-one and small group situations.
• Able to receive general instructions on routine work, and detailed instructions on new assignments.
• Able to lift 50 lbs.
• Works on assignments that are semi-routine in nature where the ability to recognize deviation from accepted practice is required.
• Applies job skills and company policies and procedures to complete a variety of tasks.

Education

• High school diploma or GED with 7+ years related experience; or AA with 5+ years; or BS with 3+ years; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• AALAS certification preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Willing and able to work weekends and holidays.
• Able to lift 50 lbs.