Research Vivarium Husbandry/Vivarium Support Technician

About This Role

This role is responsible for assisting in vivarium operations activities that facilitate clean housing and care for laboratory animals. It also involves helping with the preparation of materials to enable study activity completion. The position suits someone who can maintain a clean and organized environment for animal care.

Responsibilities

• Clean and sanitize animal cages and related environmental items
• Perform daily routine maintenance checks on the automated cage wash machines
• Prepare appropriate housing for receipt of new animals; may assist with receiving animals
• Report the need for equipment repair (cages, racks, cagewash machines, etc.) to the appropriate personnel
• Sanitize floors, walls and other surfaces in the automatic cage wash area and in other areas of the lab
• Maintain a clean cage wash area
• Maintain storage area in an organized fashion
• Complete animal care technical duties such as changing liners and sanitizing animal room walls and floors
• Receive, store, and distribute animal husbandry supplies
• Perform limited troubleshooting and calibration of instruments as appropriate for assigned area
• Prepare environmental enrichment items (edible and durable)
• Operate basic lab equipment and perform routine maintenance as needed
• Prepare study and colony supplies as needed

Requirements

• High School diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D) preferred
• No experience necessary
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve, make quick decisions, communicate decisions effectively
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing at all levels inside and outside the organization
• Ability to work extended hours beyond normal work schedule to include, but not limited to evenings, weekends, extended shifts, and/or extra shifts; sometimes on short notice
• Ability to work under specific time constraints
• Ability to regularly lift and manipulate up to 50 pounds on a repetitive basis each day
• Ability to regularly manipulate objects on shelves from one and one-half to six and one-half feet above the floor on a repetitive basis each day
• Ability to use a broom and mop to sanitize floors on a repetitive basis each day
• Ability to regularly push wheeled carts weighing up to 800 pounds on a continuous basis each day
• Ability to stand for an average of eight hours a day
• Ability to regularly read, understand, and follow written procedures
• Ability to occasionally work in spaces as narrow as 2 feet in width
• Ability to wear a respirator where required by OSHA regulations