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Research Associate II

Lensa
San Diego, CA Full Time
POSTED ON 1/5/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 2/3/2026
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For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we'll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Research Associate II at our CRADL facility located in San Diego, CA.

The Research Associate II conducts in vivo study work in rodents for multiple clients to support research programs. Collaborates with the veterinary staff to ensure that the health and welfare of laboratory animals are maintained in compliance with local, state, federal and institutional guidelines, and regulations.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

  • Able to perform and obtain competency/proficiency in the following techniques, at minimum:o Handle and restrain animals using appropriate procedureso Formulation and dosing calculationso Dosing and inoculation using all common techniques (e.g., oral gavage, intravenous (retro-orbital, and tail vein), subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intratumoral, etc.)o Tissue and blood collections using all common methods, (e.g., tail vein, retro-orbital, submandibular, submental, cardiac puncture, etc.)o Some specialized techniques and non-invasive surgeries, e.g. implantationso In-life monitoring of the study animals for body weights, clinical observations, tumor measurements, etc. o Tumor measurements, body weights, IVIS, IBD and /or EAE scoring, behavioral monitoring, etc.o Mammalian cell culture
  • Comply with all SOPs, BOPs and CRADL standards pertaining to laboratory animals for research.
  • Monitor animal health and welfare while performing technical procedures.
  • Perform study preparation activities, including but not limited to, IACUC and study protocol review, collection tube labeling, and room setu
  • Conduct laboratory procedures in compliance with approved IACUC protocols and study plans.
  • Possess rodent surgical assistant skills in anesthesia induction, anesthesia monitoring, pre-surgical and post-surgical care.
  • Documents experimental data as requested by clients in technical notebooks or approved electronic files.
  • Assist in providing technical procedure training to less experienced staff and researchers, and provide re-training as needed.
  • Operate and maintains lab equipment with minimal guidance (e.g. Isoflurane machine, IVIS, Irradiator, and others).
  • Disposal of biological, hazardous, and animal facility waste following established procedures.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date lab records/ documentation while assuring quality and data integrity.
  • Document experimental data as requested by clients in technical notebooks or approved electronic files.
  • Perform humane euthanasia in accordance with the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the AVMA Guide on Euthanasia, and under the direction of the attending veterinarian, or designee.
  • Report non-compliance or animal welfare concerns to the appropriate Animal Welfare Team member or IACUC office.
  • Collaborate with other personnel within and across teams/departments to facilitate completion of assignments.
  • Assist in maintaining clean work areas and lab supply inventory.
  • Attend and participates in on-the-job and classroom training sessions; completes all assigned computer-based safety and professional development training.
  • Maintain required attendance level and adherence to work schedule in accordance with required staffing levels to ensure that assigned duties are completed.
  • Maintain effective communication with supervisor/ leadership, and assist in reporting procedural deficiencies and issues.
  • Assist Vet Techs and Veterinarians with follow-up checks, treatments and procedure if needed.
  • Perform other duties as directed by management.

Minimum Qualifications

The following are minimum requirements related to Research Associate II role.

Candidates must possess one of the following combinations of education/experience:

  • High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) AND either 1) a minimum of 4 years of laboratory animal experience or 2) certification from AALAS, at minimum Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT).
  • Associate degree (A.A./A.S.) or Bachelor's degree (B.A./B.S.) or equivalent in animal or laboratory science or related discipline AND a minimum of one - two (1 - 2) years of laboratory animal experience. Certification from AALAS, such as Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT), is preferred.

In Addition

  • Basic in vivo technical skills.
  • Possess knowledge and general understanding of animal welfare regulations (including the Guide, AVMA guidelines, and PHS Policy), and of the importance of ethical use of animals in research.
  • Working knowledge of lab animal research and lab animal operations.
  • Ability to perform effectively with limited supervision under conditions of fluctuating workloads and prioritize job duties with guidance.
  • Proficiency of common in-vivo technical skills and working with mice and rat species; ability to identify sick animals and summarize findings.
  • Familiar with a variety of animal models in pharmacokinetics, toxicology, oncology, metabolic diseases, infectious diseases, and immune disorders.
  • Working knowledge of laboratory animal or study specific equipment and supplies, including autoclave, IVIS, irradiators, caging systems, biosecurity such as personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and biological or chemical hazard requirements.
  • Experience with IVIS imaging, workflow, and data analysis.
  • Must be able to follow verbal and written instructions, exhibit interpersonal skills that are conducive to effective communication and contribute to a congenial work environment.
  • Maintains a positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a professional manner with clients, customers, coworkers, and supervisors.
  • Ability to demonstrate strong teamwork orientation, strong organizations skills, attention to detail and superior customer-service focus.
  • Must demonstrate accountability and ethics in the performance of daily responsibilities.
  • Working knowledge of MS Office Suite and database systems.

The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $36.00 per hour. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

About Insourcing Solutions

Charles River Insourcing Solutions? can streamline research by delivering operational and cost efficiencies through the strategic insourcing of GMP, GLP and non-GLP research services from discovery through safety assessment. Insourcing Solutions? provides you with the ability to maintain control of your facility and expertise while leveraging available space.

About Charles River

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients' clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client's unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We're committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to crrecruitment_US@crl.com. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.

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If you have questions about this posting, please contact support@lensa.com

Salary : $33 - $36

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