Cage Wash Technician

Princeton University•Princeton, NJ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Animal Resource (LAR) group at Princeton University is responsible for the care of all research animals. The Cage Wash Technician provides state-of-the-art animal care for laboratory animals housed within all facilities, operating and maintaining animal cage washing equipment. This role ensures the cleanliness of the facility and all related supplies and caging, and assists with maintenance of adequate supplies of food, bedding, and PPE. The technician will support other animal care technicians as directed and must be willing to rotate through all LAR facilities. This position requires good communication skills and ensures the highest quality of laboratory animal care and research support.

Requirements

Willing and able to work safely with biological and chemical hazards
Able to lift a minimum of fifty (50) lbs
Basic knowledge of biology and behavior of laboratory animal species including non-human primates
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a laboratory animal resources team
Ability to share husbandry knowledge with other animal care staff, students and new researchers
Proven ability to work independently
Ability to communicate well with different levels within the organization
Ability to work well with a diverse team for a common goal consistent with the mission of the Laboratory Animal Resources
Proficient knowledge of federal, state and local Animal Welfare legislation
Sound judgment on how to balance optimal animal care, research goals, and regulatory requirements
Stand or walk continuously up to 6 hours per day
Sit for up to 2 hours per day
Lift or carry up to 20 pounds frequently (34-66% of the day) and up to 50 pounds occasionally (less than 33% day)
Push or pull using forces up to 50 pounds frequently (34 – 66% of the work day)
Use hands for simple grasping, pushing or pulling, and fine manipulations constantly (more than 66% of the day)
Kneel, bend, squat, reach overhead, lift overhead, or push or pull frequently (34 – 66% of the work day)
Knee stand, crawl, or climb step stools or 6-foot stepladders occasionally (less than 33% of the workday)
Lift up to 50 pounds in a range of motions from floor to waist height
Lift up to 20 pounds in a range of motions from floor to overhead
Work in a controlled laboratory environment under a variety of temperature and humidity conditions
Possess ability to maintain balance, a full range of body motions, and physical tasks
Ability to follow-up tasks from beginning to completion and carry out duties in accordance to supervisor deadlines and university requirements
Preserve confidential information and not disclose contents of this information except in the performance of the work assignment and in accordance with University and departmental policies and expectations
Successfully pass a background review

Nice To Haves

Ability to handle assignments and changing priorities as circumstances may arise
Excellent interpersonal skills
Ability to communicate well person to person as well as per E-mail
Ability to use Microsoft Office Applications including Outlook and other software applications used in animal research and compliance such as an electronic animal management programs
Achieve ALAT certification within the first year of employment and keep current through ongoing professional development in animal husbandry, equipment, caging, and related topics in laboratory animal science through active participation in local and national professional organizations

Responsibilities

Sanitizing all supplies (cages, water bottles, food bins and other animal care related equipment)
Maintaining clean animal rooms, procedure rooms, hallways and other support areas
Keeping records related to animal support areas
Operating cage wash machinery (mechanical cage, rack and tunnel washers), ventilated rodent caging, Avidity watering systems, bedding dispensing/disposal units, full size to table top autoclaves and other animal care equipment
Discovering and reporting any facility maintenance issues to the Lead Animal Technician and LAR Facility Manager
Maintaining facility equipment and performing routine preventative maintenance on cage wash and autoclaves, including routine inspection of cleaning filters
Monitoring, documenting, and reporting deviations of environmental parameters such room temperature, humidity, lights, and air quality
Receiving and maintaining adequate inventory levels of cleaning materials, Chemicals, PPE supplies and bedding materials
Receiving and maintaining adequate levels of food, fruit, vegetables and other dietary supplements, and ensuring adequate labeling of expiration dates
Entering data accurately and timely into the electronic management systems, husbandry logs, vivarium calendar, and time reporting system
Performing jobs that are necessary and required to maintain basic University operations, including work attendance during scheduled or unscheduled work closures due to emergencies, events or other situations
Cross training and providing absentee support for other animal care technicians in other facilities (through support of cage changing tasks)
Rotating with other animal care technicians for week night, weekend and holiday coverage as needed
Assuming additional responsibilities and increasing knowledge, skills, and abilities