Research Animal Care Specialist
About The Position
The Research Animal Care Specialist at the PAAR Facility on The Ohio State University’s CFAES Wooster Campus provides direct and indirect animal care and research support in BSL-3 and BSL-3Ag high-containment environments. The role is a primary operational contact for research projects and participates in study setup, execution, and closeout. Daily work involves proximity to high-consequence animal pathogens and zoonotic agents, with a focus on the husbandry, handling, observation, and welfare of bovine, porcine, and avian animals. The specialist provides daily care, feeding, watering, health monitoring, and research support; assists with animal restraint, sampling, and experimental procedures; and supports veterinary and protocol coordination. Other work includes managing research waste and autoclave sterilization, maintaining facility and equipment readiness, tracking supplies, following biosafety and regulatory requirements, and keeping detailed records. This is a regular full-time, temporary fixed-term position scheduled for 40 hours on the first shift. Animal-care duties and project timelines require availability outside standard business hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays. The position requires daily work inside high-containment facilities and direct handling of high-consequence zoonotic animal pathogens. Personal ownership or regular outside-work exposure to cattle, swine, or poultry is prohibited, as is performing these duties while immunocompromised.
Requirements
- Associate degree in Animal Science, Veterinary Technology, Biological Sciences, or a related field.
- At least 2 years of relevant animal-husbandry experience with bovine, porcine, and avian species in a research environment, including direct experience working under IACUC-approved protocols.
- Exceptional attention to detail and observational skills to detect early signs of animal distress, illness, or biosafety protocol variances.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for documenting observations, working with supervisors and research teams, and maintaining audit-ready records.
- Ability to regularly lift, move, and handle equipment or animal supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Must meet the training, background-check, and regulatory requirements to secure and maintain Select Agent clearance for high-containment work.
- Must be available to work outside standard business hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Personal ownership or regular exposure outside work to cattle, swine, or poultry is prohibited.
- Individuals who are immunocompromised are prohibited from performing these duties.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in a relevant field.
- 4–6 years of experience in high-containment livestock management.
Responsibilities
- Provide daily care, feeding, watering, and health monitoring for bovine, porcine, and avian research animals in high-containment settings.
- Observe animal behavior and physical or clinical status to detect signs of distress, illness, or other changes.
- Prepare animal housing, specialized pens, and study supplies for incoming projects, and complete project closeout procedures, including decontaminating housing, organizing records, and resetting animal rooms.
- Assist research teams and principal investigators with animal restraint, sampling, health observations, and experimental procedures involving high-consequence zoonotic pathogens.
- Follow approved IACUC protocols and monitor animal welfare; communicate routine health observations with the Attending Veterinarian and report clinical concerns, protocol variances, or welfare issues to the immediate supervisor.
- Operate autoclaves, tissue digesters, and decontamination systems to sterilize research waste, and ensure safe disposal of processed waste.
- Prepare, sanitize, and validate animal housing rooms, laboratories, and specialized equipment before and after project runs.
- Assist with basic troubleshooting and routine maintenance of containment equipment, coordinating with facility staff and vendors when repairs are needed.
- Maintain compliance with IACUC guidelines, the Select Agent Program, and regulatory biosafety standards.
- Maintain detailed records and logs for animal care, project closeouts, equipment validation, waste sterilization cycles, and biosafety incidents.
- Follow and update SOPs for animal husbandry, biosecurity, and waste decontamination; escort visitors or newly cleared users as needed.
- Track, order, and stock project supplies, PPE, animal feed, bedding, and sanitation chemicals.
- Support facility database tracking, stage supplies outside containment, and assist with facility emergency response needs as required.
- Perform other duties consistent with the position's classification and level of responsibility.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
