Veterinary Technician, Large Animals

MIT•Cambridge, MA

About The Position

The Veterinary Technician, Large Animal, works in the Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM), assisting veterinarians with all aspects of marmoset colony oversight. The position supports clinical care through direct animal handling and restraint, catching animals from home cages, and transporting them to procedure spaces. Administrative and colony-management work includes maintaining records and clinical spaces, tracking breeding colony census information, updating birth information and cage identification tags, composing breeding groups, forming animal pairs, and managing group disbanding as directed. The role includes participating in health checks and facility rounds, closely monitoring infants during the postnatal period, identifying potential foster dams, and assisting with conscious marmoset pregnancy monitoring using ultrasonography. The technician also helps train animal husbandry technicians and weekend clinical personnel in marmoset husbandry, cage security, health concern identification, diet preparation, birth monitoring, and infant health assessment. Additional responsibilities include monitoring social interactions and implementing the behavioral management and enrichment programs; participating in positive reinforcement training and acclimating animals to conscious ultrasonography; preparing enrichment materials; administering oral and parenteral medications; collecting samples; preparing animals for surgery; monitoring anesthesia; and conducting post-operative monitoring. Weekend and holiday availability is required.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Three years of related experience.
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 Applications.
Weekend and holiday availability.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in animal science, biology, or a related field.
Experience with nonhuman primate husbandry and veterinary technical work.
LAT certification.

Responsibilities

Assist veterinarians with marmoset clinical care, including handling and restraining animals and transporting them from home cages to procedure spaces.
Maintain records and clinical spaces, including the enrichment room.
Track and maintain accurate breeding colony census data, including births, deaths, breeding group changes, and animal moves.
Update birth information and maintain cage identification tags.
Compose new breeding groups, form animal pairs, and manage group disbanding as directed.
Participate in health checks and facility rounds, including close monitoring of infants during the postnatal period.
Identify potential foster dams in cases of infant rejection and update notice boards.
Assist veterinarians with pregnancy monitoring of conscious marmosets using ultrasonography and update projected parturition dates on notice boards.
Assist with training animal husbandry technicians in marmoset husbandry, cage security, identifying health concerns, and diet preparation.
Assist with training weekend clinical personnel to identify health concerns, monitor births, assess infant health, and perform related tasks.
Monitor social interactions of groups and pairs and implement the marmoset enrichment program.
Participate in positive reinforcement training to facilitate access to animals in group cages and acclimate animals to conscious ultrasonography.
Coordinate and prepare enrichment materials.
Administer oral and parenteral drugs.
Collect samples, including blood and feces.
Prepare animals for surgery, monitor anesthesia, and perform post-operative monitoring.