Animal Care Technician-Intermediate

Job Summary: 

This is an Animal Care Technician (Intermediate) position in the research group of Drs. Raushan Kurmasheva and Peter Houghton, at the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute (GCCRI). Research project is supported by the NCI Pediatric In Vivo Testing Program (PIVOT) and the CPRIT funded Texas Pediatric Cancer Drug Testing Core (TPC-DTC). We are looking for a good team player with excellent organizational and communication skills, and at least 3 years of experience in animal research.

Job Duties: 

1. Provides direct and indirect clinical care of research animals including but not limited to subjective health assessment via observation of physical and behavioral attributes, appropriate handling and restraint for physical exam, non-invasive imaging modalities- e.g. x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, PET scan, diagnostic specimen collection and processing, medical treatment administration and documentation and health record creation, maintenance and archiving.

2. Provides veterinary technical support for clinical and experimental surgical procedures- i.e. animal preparation, sedation, anesthesia induction, maintenance, monitoring, recovery, post-surgical care, preparation of surgical suite and instruments for aseptic and clean surgical procedures, and appropriate documentation of surgery and surgery-related activities.
3. Presents good communication and data coordination/reporting skills in time sensitive manner for high efficiency group function.
4. Provides veterinary technical support of experimental procedures involving research animals including but not limited to appropriate handling and restraint, administration, monitoring and documentation of anesthesia, administration of experimental compounds, specimen collection, euthanasia.
5. Provides veterinary drug and medical supply inventory monitoring and replenishment for animal facilities on three geographically distinct campuses.
6. Assists in the pathology lab to include operation of the blood analysis equipment, urine and fecal testing, sentinel animal processing and pathology accession records creation and maintenance.
7. Provides veterinary technical services for preparation and maintenance of animal procedure and treatment rooms to include equipment and supply assessment and replenishment, cleaning and sanitation for clinical and experimental activities.
8. Collects tumor tissues, blood, plasma from mice, and performs pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic studies.
9. Maintains animal procedure and treatment rooms, supplies and instruments at required levels of cleaning and sanitation for experimental activities.
10. Maintains accurate records of all procedures associated with animal drug dosing, tumor and weight measurements. Regularly and consistently updates study worksheets.
11. Trains Animal Care and investigator staff on research animal and equipment use procedures and techniques to include subjective health assessment, handling and restraint, and basic manipulations e.g. injections, specimen collection, safety and bio-security.
12. Provides guidance and assistance to Animal Care Technician - Associate and research personnel on the use and or maintenance of veterinary care facilities, supplies and equipment.
13. Continuously develops knowledge on latest developments in Animal Care technologies, instrumentation, and supplies, for advancing the efficiency of processes.
14. Performs other duties as assigned.

Education: 

High school diploma or GED equivalent is required.

Experience: 

Three (3) years related experience is required.

Additional Licenses and Certifications: 

Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) certification through American Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences (AALAS) is preferred.