Overview
Under direct supervision from the Animal Facility Manager, the Husbandry Tech I will be responsible for both cage room and husbandry activities related to the care of laboratory research mice. This position involves a range of tasks and functions that are typically essential to continue critical vivarium operations. This opening is Part-time and specific for our weekend shift, Sat and Sun, with an additional weekday or holiday; regularly working 16-24 hours per week.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Cage Room Duties ~25%
- Refills water bottles; operates the automatic bottle filler machine
- Removes and disposes of soiled bedding in used rodent cages
- Organizes the cleaned caging and accessories
- Adds nesting material to bedding filled cages
- Performs other cleaning duties in vivarium support areas such as mopping floors, cleaning windows and counters
- Restocks supplies as needed in cage washrooms and support areas
- Participates in required EH&S and Animal Resources training courses
- May perform euthanasia on rodents
- Prepares cleaning solutions and labels stock solutions with preparation date
- Receives and rotates animal feed and bedding; labels feed barrels with the feed type, feed mill date, bag opened and expiration date
Husbandry Duties ~75%
- Performs the weekend animal health checks (Sat and Sun) and some holidays.
- Reports findings of observed animal health conditions to the Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) assigned to the room and to the research contact, via text or email.
- Completes animal status forms with findings of newborn litters; sick or dead mice.
- Checks all cages for adequate food and water levels; and replenishes feed and changes out the water bottle when the volume is low
- Changes cages with excess moisture due to a flooded or leaky water bottle
- Changes cages when scheduled by the manager
- Checks animal ventilated racks for proper air flow
- Maintains animal room activity logs and husbandry records for work performed
- Cleans cage changing hoods or biosafety cabinets after every use.
- Sweep and mop floors after husbandry duties (cage changing).
- Restock room supplies and maintains common use storage and procedure support areas
- Contact Managers for all emergencies, such as power outages, floods, and animal welfare concerns
Education and/or Experience:
- High School diploma
- Employees will be trained on the job
Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities:
- Ability to pass post-employment physical as required by OLAW (Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare)
- Ability to work in environment which contains animal dander and dust particles
- Ability to perform repetitive motions with arms, wrists and hands; regular bending and lifting, sitting and standing on hard floor surfaces and pushing and pulling of carts loaded with caging and accessories
- Ability to lift and stack feed and bedding bags up to 40 pounds
- Must wear institute supplied scrubs, face mask, shoe covers and hair bonnet as well as other task-related personnel protective equipment including face shield or goggles, heat resistant autoclave gloves, nitrile or chemical gloves, apron, and back support belt
- Ability to work Sat and Sun on a regular basis.
- Work independently as well as in a team environment
- Strong written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
- Possess good time management and organizational skills
- Adhere to department and institute safety and occupational health policies and procedures while demonstrating competency in safety protocols
- Maintain compliance with all training requirements
- Professional proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook (email)
Supervisory Responsibilities:
No, this position does not have any formal supervisory responsibilities
Work Location:
This is an onsite position; candidates must be willing to work onsite in San Diego. Out-of-state applicants must disclose their willingness to relocate.
Compensation:
The expected compensation for this position is $21/hour commensurate with experience.
