Lab Animal Technician 1

Oregon Health & Science University•Beaverton, OR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Animal Technician 1 provides husbandry, health care, and research support for laboratory animals at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC). The role focuses on learning and performing manual and technical tasks related to animal care and research support. Work assignments and specific duties vary according to animal populations and care requirements, service needs, staffing, and the employee’s knowledge. The Division of Comparative Medicine houses approximately 5,300 nonhuman primates and 1,500 small laboratory animals across eight buildings and 17 outdoor enclosures. Technicians work with animal-care and investigative staff to support the center’s research mission and animal-care needs.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of animal care, demonstrable through care of household pets, farm animals, or 4-H animals.
Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and/or in writing with technical and professional staff.
Ability to provide research support at the level for which the employee is trained, in a professional manner and in contact with investigative staff.
Ability to perform general animal-husbandry duties and assist investigative staff as requested.
Valid driver’s license and ability to drive DCM/ONPRC vehicles on and off campus.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and lift approximately 42 pounds to shoulder height.
Ability to push and pull heavy wheeled equipment, such as cage racks and loaded carts.
Ability to move unassisted through animal-housing areas in multiple indoor and outdoor buildings.
Sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform or learn basic animal husbandry, animal handling, and health-care procedures, including feeding, sanitization, animal capture and restraint, medication administration, and collection of body fluids and tissues.
Ability to work in conditions involving wet or slick surfaces, narrow corridors, stairs, uncontrolled covered areas, potential exposure to zoonotic agents and hazardous or sanitizing chemicals, and possible fit testing and use of an N-95 respirator.

Nice To Haves

Six months of related animal experience, or Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification, or two years of indirect laboratory-animal experience.
High school diploma or GED and mastery of principles and concepts taught on the job are specified for advancement.

Responsibilities

Perform routine feeding and watering of animals.
Capture, restrain, and transport animals for veterinary or investigative procedures.
Handle, restrain, identify, and sex common varieties of laboratory animals.
Sanitize animal housing, shelters, equipment, and facilities, including floors, walls, ceilings, and sinks.
Assist with animal health-management procedures and diagnostic tasks, including weighing, TB testing, and blood collection.
Assist with facility maintenance and simple maintenance tasks such as replacing drinking-water valves, preparing and painting surfaces, and replacing light tubes or bulbs.
Unload and store feed bags weighing 25–50 pounds.
Assist with group-housed animal capture and processing.
Assist with care of animals in the nursery.
Perform animal-care and environmental-enrichment activities that may occur on weekends, outside regular working hours, or as overtime.
Inventory and request supplies.
Observe animals in all housing configurations, identify abnormalities in physical condition or behavior, and report and record observations.
Recognize and report facility problems, such as inappropriate room temperatures, leaks, plugged drains, or damaged surfaces.
Operate equipment that supports animal care, including cage washers, floor scrubbers, autoclaves, pressure washers, scales, and veterinary-care instruments.
Interact professionally and with a service-oriented attitude with research investigative staff to meet their needs.
Perform other duties as assigned.