Animal Technician / Veterinary Assistant / Veterinary Technician

Shift/Schedule: Day 5x8-Hour (07:00 - 16:00)

Duration: 6 Months Contract - May extend

What specific experience, background, and/or qualifications are you looking for in candidates for this position?

Experience in clinical animal work as a veterinary assistant or licensed veterinary technician including but not limited to health assessment, basic handling of various species, anesthesia monitoring and surgery assistance, intubation, injections, venipuncture, placement of IV catheters.

Please verify any certificates and/or licenses required for the position, if applicable: None

The Laboratory Animal Resource Center is one unit of the Office of Research and is charged with the proper care of animals used for research. The veterinary health unit of the Laboratory Animal Resource Center is responsible for the daily health care of laboratory animals, and for providing research services to laboratories. The veterinary health unit monitors animal health, conducts or oversees pre- and post-experimental treatment, assures accurate medical record keeping, advises principal investigators in effective management of animal health issues, assists the clinical veterinarians with diagnosis and treatment, and works closely with animal technicians, supervisors, veterinarians, investigators and their staff to assure compliance with protocols approved by the Institutes Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Most of this work is performed by technicians in the AHT III classification, with occasional assistance from AHT II staff
Under the supervision Veterinary & Technical Services Manager, the AHT performs assigned technical tasks to facilitate the daily operations of the animal health and welfare, and research support programs of the Laboratory Animal Resource Center. The AHT II assists veterinarians and AHT III staff with health care procedures and research services in the lab animal setting. This position requires ability to maintain a great degree of confidentiality.

In general, the AHT 11levcl is for trainees who hope to go on to become veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, or who wish to expand their present laboratory animal skills and knowledge in a more medical direction. The position provides hands-on skills and training, appropriate to the AHT II's
backgrom1d and professional goals. The incumbent will generally work under close or direct supervision of senior and professional staff. S/he must develop confidence and competence in safely working with a variety of animal species, must understand the requirement to adhere to approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee protocols. Emphasis is on learning-by-doing, and incumbent is expected to progress in skills and knowledge in his/her time with LARC

Examples of potential areas of responsibility may include any of the following areas (or similar duties as subsequently assigned):
I. Assist veterinarian or senior AHT with animal medications and examinations
2. Conduct simple health assessments and report to veterinarian and/or senior AHT
3. Assist with veterinary technical procedures under direct supervision, such as blood collection and animal anesthesia
4. Assist with preparation, cleaning and maintenance of surgical areas, necropsy room, treatment areas, and surgical and other technical supplies
5. Assist with animal husbandry duties as assigned
6. Assist with animal necropsy and tissue collection
7. Assist ,vi.th records keeping and data analysis for LARC projects
8. Other technical and administrative duties of similar complexity as assigned.