Lab Animal Technician 2-Lab Animal Care Unit Research

University of Tennessee•Memphis, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Animal Technician 2 performs basic animal care and identifies signs of abnormal health and abnormal environmental parameters and provides technical research support services. This role is crucial for the successful operation of the unit by ensuring proper infrastructure is maintained and contributing to the facility's disease surveillance program.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)
One (1) year of direct experience caring for animals; OR successful completion of a formal 12-month course (1296 hours) training program in Animal Lab Technology (Certificate or Diploma); OR certification as an Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) is accepted in lieu of one year of experience.
Must be able to read and understand simple instructions.
Requires physical effort and ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
Requires excellent manual dexterity for manipulating cages during animal transfer and cleaning.
Ability to use hands in a repetitive motion.
Excellent oral, written, and observation skills.
Ability to perform standard repetitive work involving straightforward application of work rules and procedures.
Experience handling animals with the ability to evaluate the health status of animals.
Ability to follow written standard operating procedures.
Ability to communicate effectively and work as a team.
Ability to learn sterile microisolator techniques.

Nice To Haves

Must obtain Assistant Lab Animal Technician (ALAT) certificate within 12 months of employment.

Responsibilities

Assists with daily care and maintenance of animals under standard and specialized (animal biosafety level 2, ABSL2) housing conditions, including feeding, watering, providing specialized care, recordkeeping, preparing of specialized diets or water, changing of cages.
Sanitizes cages, pens, animal quarters, and equipment; performs minor repairs.
Observes individual animals and colonies for signs of disease, illness, injuries, abnormal behavior, or mortality; reports those conditions to the supervisor and veterinary staff per standard operating procedures.
Administers medications and/or treatments as instructed by veterinary staff.
Reports overcrowded cages to investigators and supervisors per standard operating procedures.
Receives newly arrived animals, verifies records, and transfers animals to appropriate caging; maintains accurate records as required by the standard operating procedures.
Contributes to successful operation of unit by ensuring proper infrastructure is maintained.
Carries out the first line of the facility’s disease surveillance program in the work area under the direction of the supervisor and veterinary staff.
Assists investigators and research staff with various research projects that require unique or specialized husbandry practices.
Maintains supplies, sanitizes caging, and equipment; sanitizes animal rooms and facilities
Performs other duties as assigned.