Animal Facility Veterinarian

Axle•Bethesda, MD

18h•$109,000 - $112,000•Onsite

About The Position

Axle is seeking an Animal Facility Veterinarian to support the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. The veterinarian provides services supporting the Veterinary Resources Program’s research activities, including clinical veterinary care, animal-welfare oversight, and compliance with regulatory standards. The role focuses primarily on mice and guinea pigs in the TRP vivarium and also involves participation in small-animal and non-human-primate experiments. The veterinarian serves as a voting member of the VRC Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC), contributes to protocol review and facility inspections, and provides training and guidance to research staff. The position includes routine and emergency care, preventive health assessments, diagnosis and treatment, surgery, postoperative care, and maintaining complete medical records. The role also involves developing and implementing animal-care protocols, standard operating procedures, policies, and procedures. The anticipated base compensation range is $109,000–$112,000 USD. Actual salary may vary depending on experience, qualifications, skills, and location.

Requirements

DVM degree from an accredited institution.
Current license to practice veterinary medicine from a U.S. state.
Board certification or eligibility in laboratory animal medicine (ACLAM).
Minimum of three years of experience in laboratory animal medicine.
Knowledge of federal, state, and institutional regulations and guidelines for animal care and use.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to use Microsoft Suite products.

Responsibilities

Provide routine and emergency veterinary care for laboratory animals, primarily mice and guinea pigs.
Provide routine medical care to research colonies and conduct health assessments and preventive-care programs.
Perform animal surgeries, including procedures such as spay and neuter, hernia repair, growth removals, and dental extractions, as needed.
Provide postoperative care and perform euthanasia as necessary.
Diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries in laboratory animals.
Participate in small-animal and non-human-primate experiments; monitor experimental conditions and recommend appropriate care and treatment.
Serve as a voting member of the VRC ACUC and attend and participate in scheduled ACUC meetings and inspections.
Prepare written evaluations and recommendations for animal-use protocols reviewed by the ACUC.
Review and evaluate animal-use protocols to support ethical and humane treatment of animals.
Maintain accurate and complete medical records and facility databases, including treatments, examinations, test results, surgeries, and outcomes, as well as records required by local and state laws.
Ensure facility compliance with applicable federal, state, local, departmental, and institutional laws, regulations, and guidelines.
Develop and implement animal-care protocols, standard operating procedures, and policies and procedures related to animal care and use.
Provide training and guidance to research staff on proper animal handling, care, and use; maintain related training materials and records.
Prepare monthly reports summarizing veterinary services, health assessments, treatments, and surgeries.
Document compliance with animal-care protocols and regulatory standards.
Meet with laboratory members to present updates on an ad hoc basis.