Job Summary:

Provides husbandry to laboratory animals, maintains animal inventory records and animal husbandry and room maintenance records, and performs facility sanitation in animal facilities.

Working Schedule:

o Must be able to work a flexible working schedule based on workload and deadlines;

o Must be able to work schedules as assigned by the Operations Manager or his/her designee for that specific animal facility;

o Must be able to work on rotating weekends;

o Must be able to work on holidays as assigned.

Work Performed:

The following duties are performed daily under management supervision:

1. Performs general husbandry daily involving the handling of conventional and genetically engineered animal models with varying health status

2. Performs duties within various animal biosafety levels and strictly follows biocontainment procedures.

3. Changes cages following the barrier technique and ensures animals are not contaminated when outside of their primary enclosure. Maintains animal rooms (secondary enclosures) and facility hallways to prevent cross-contamination.

4. Performs microbiological monitoring following approved procedures.

5. Operates tunnel washers, rack washers, autoclaves, and other animal facility equipment used to sanitize and sterilize husbandry equipment.

6. Evaluates animal health each day and reports abnormal clinical signs to the veterinary staff. Performs treatments as prescribed by the veterinary staff and reports the progress of therapies.

7. Documents critical facility data daily as required by regulatory agencies with oversight of animals used in research, teaching, and education.

8. Monitors and documents cages that are overcrowded. Performs weanings when needed, ensuring that each animal’s sex is accurately determined and that females and males are properly separated, and notifies laboratory staff as needed.

9. Receives and processes incoming animals and supplies as assigned by management.

10. Participates in animal quarantine and health surveillance programs for the facility. Adheres to containment practices in the event of an infectious pathogen outbreak.

11. Uses current technology to perform laboratory animal husbandry duties, including but not limited to recording daily cage census, animal health observations, and weaned cages.

12. Communicates professionally and respectfully, both verbally and in writing. Reads emails at least daily and professionally composes emails.

13. Reports facility and environmental issues that fall outside animal welfare regulatory requirements (as defined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals) to the Operations Manager or his/her designee.

14. Implements environmental enrichment program intended to minimize animal stress in the research setting.

15. Performs routine euthanasia of laboratory animals according to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Panel on Euthanasia.

16. Assists with guidance and training of new animal technicians.

17. Attends technician meetings and training sessions on all aspects of laboratory animal care and use of animals in biomedical research as scheduled by the supervisory staff.

18. Complies with DLAR and Duke Policies and standard operating procedures.

19. Performs other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Education/Training

High school diploma or equivalent. ALAT certification must be obtained within 18 months of employment.

Experience

Some experience in the care and handling of animals is preferred.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Skills

• Demonstrated proficiency (didactic and practical) for core DLAR SOPs.

• Ability to lift and move 50lbs. regularly and stand for long periods.

• Customer-focused attitude and enjoys working with similarly dedicated persons in a team fashion within a high-energy research environment.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: From $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Relocate:

• Durham, NC: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person