Animal Care Technician II

Universities of Wisconsin•Madison, WI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you looking for a job working with research animals in a Gnotobiotic Facility? We offer a rewarding career with a flexible work environment. Animal Care staff provide routine and specialized animal husbandry and facility maintenance. If you are passionate about animals, supportive of biomedical research and want to learn how you can play a critical role within BRMS, we invite you to apply for this position. The animal program involves all aspects of animal use for research, teaching, and outreach. BRMS is seeking an Animal Care Technician to join their Gnotobiotic Shared Resources team. This position will be responsible for performing routine and specialized animal husbandry tasks and general facility maintenance for the Gnotobiotic Shared Resources team in the Biotechnology Center vivarium within Biomedical Research Model Services (BRMS). These duties include general animal husbandry, working with isolators, feeding and watering animals, monitoring animal room environments, cleaning flexible-film isolators, handling animals, reporting sick and injured animals, general facility maintenance and housekeeping. This position interacts with researchers and veterinary staff as required. Other duties are to be assigned by the supervisor. We offer flexible hours after passing the probationary period, holiday pay, extra hourly differential pay for weekend hours worked as well as additional hourly pay for each level of AALAS certification. This position requires work to be completed onsite, at a designated campus work location. Monday through Friday 7:00a.m.- 3:30p.m. Occasional weekend and holiday work required.

Requirements

Physical ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, squat, twist and push carts, bedding, feed bags and equipment up to 50 lbs.
Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
Proficient computer skills such as emailing, comfortable using the internet and completing online forms.
Ability to work effectively both independently and with a team.
Good communication and organization skills.

Nice To Haves

At least 6 months of animal care experience with small and/or large animals.
Experience in a research setting.
Experience working with gnotobiotic flexible-film isolators
Experience with aseptic laboratory practices
Knowledge of acceptable animal husbandry procedures.
Familiarity with the University requirement concerning Responsible Use and Care of Animals in Research and Training and the Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
Knowledge of animal health records maintenance and ability to perform animal health checks.
AALAS Certification (ALAT, LAT or LATG)

Responsibilities

Observes animal behavior, performs basic animal care, and reports concerns to the appropriate entities to contribute to the health and well-being of animals and promote research
Setup and take down of flexible-film isolators
Collects samples from animals and administers medications, injections, and treatments according to established protocols and procedures to be used for diagnostic tests and research
Inventories, cleans, and maintains organization of animal holding spaces and supplies
Prepares food and formulas and feeds animals according to established schedules and specifications
Inspects and reports equipment problems to ensure optimal and safe operation
Performs gnotobiotic-specific tasks
Maintains organization of and updates records related to research procedures