Animal Technician

Harvard University • Cambridge, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under direction of the head of the fish facility, this position is responsible for the daily care and husbandry of zebrafish in a research environment in accordance with all applicable laws and regulatory guidelines. The Animal Technician will maintain health and well-being of laboratory zebrafish by providing a stable, sanitized environment with quality food and water and husbandry practices. The position also involves potential exposure to BSL1 & BSL2 chemicals, but PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and training will be administered and expected to be followed to ensure the safety of the technician and compliance with the required safety and animal husbandry protocols. This position will require standing and bending for extended periods of time and occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs.

Requirements

• At least six months experience in animal care or equivalent.
• BA/BS or College background in Biology is strongly preferred.
• One year of animal (ideally zebrafish) care/husbandry work experience.
• Analytical skills to gather and interpret data in situations in which the information or problems are relatively routine.
• Highly motivated, detail oriented, responsible individual with strong organizational skills and work ethic.

Responsibilities

• Perform and record daily animal health observations, communicate any adverse findings to the manager, and complete required documentation.
• Maintain clean, orderly and sanitized work areas - identifying any problems and notifying aquatics facility manager.
• Perform daily room checks for environmental conditions (temperature, salinity, lighting, pH).
• Perform and record all water chemistry testing, and complete required area documentation.
• Monitor equipment for proper operation and complete appropriate documentation.
• Oversee invertebrate cultures for feeding various developmental stages.
• Monitor supplies and communicate supply needs to manager in timely manner.
• Under supervision, may assist in room training.
• May assist with experiments conducted in the lab, which include spawning animals, genotyping and data analysis.
• Some holiday and weekend coverage will be required.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree