Veterinary Research/Health Technician 1

Department Overview

The Oregon National Primate Center (ONPRC) is located 12 miles west of the OHSU main campus, and sits on 162 acres of land featuring forested areas, research and administration buildings, indoor and outdoor animal housing, and 2-mile perimeter walking path. Our mission is to improve human health and the quality of life through the support of nonhuman primate research programs that advance our knowledge of the causes, preventions, treatments, and cures of debilitating diseases.

Function/Duties of Position

The Vet Research/Health Technician 1 assists in providing research support, clinical health care, and husbandry for a variety of non human primates. This is the first level of a three level series. It is distinguished from the higher levels by increased concentration on routine care and reduced responsibility for providing intermediate to complex animal care and procedures under specialized projects which require increased attention to research criteria. It is distinguished from the Lab Animal Technician series by the emphasis on research support and health care of animals.

Research Support Services

• Under supervision, performs technical skills in support of a variety of investigative needs including but not limited to phlebotomy or following fasting protocols.
• May communicate and interact with scientific staff to accomplish their needs.
• May assist with the management of and coordination of tasks to meet research needs.

Animal Health Care 

• Evaluates new and ongoing clinical cases. 
• Provides basic treatments within clinical guidelines or as determined by the Attending Veterinarian or their designees which may include but is not limited to medication administration or recovery from IV fluid therapy. 
• Triages which cases may require immediate attention or complex individual or colony-level care, in addition to case management through routine practices including but not limited to clinical release weights. 
• Prioritizes animal health assessment, such as DVM night checks, based on case evaluation of the reported clinical condition.

Animal Husbandry and General Maintenance

• Provides husbandry for research animals.
• Cleans and sanitizes animal care areas and equipment and operates mechanical washing equipment.
• Restock clinical supplies.
• Maintains sterility of surgical supplies and instruments through proper storage and rotation. Cleans and disinfects minor surgical and clinical supplies.

Observation and Records

• Checks animals daily for signs of abnormal behavior, illness, or injury.
• Records information necessary to support the research protocols and animal health.
• Reports observed health findings per standard reporting process.
• Records completion of daily required area-level care activities.

Other

• Drives department vehicles on campus.
• Assists in the loading and unloading of animals.
• Animal capture and care.
• Unloading and storing feed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED, AND
• Six months experience providing paid or voluntary care for animals.
• Possession of a valid Driver's License and ability to drive DCM/ONRPC vehicles on and off campus as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Professional and service-oriented attitude.
• Ability to consistently interact with research investigative staff, supervisors and co-workers, in a positive and constructive manner, to provide research support in a professional manner, and with a service-oriented attitude.
• Ability to use proper techniques to safely perform standard clinical procedures, including ability to accurately calculate medication dosages.
• Possess sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform (or learn to perform) basic animal husbandry and animal handling (using proper techniques).
• Ability to use computer keyboard.
• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and/or written formats with both technical and professional staff.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field preferred.

• Experience in the health care of research animals.
• Experience as a veterinary technician or assistant.
• Experience with handling and administering medications through various routes.
• Pharmaceutical drug and controlled drug knowledge.
• Knowledge of standardized medical terminology and nomenclature.

• Certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science at the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician level (ALAT), or Certified Animal Health Technician (AHT), or equivalent combination of training and experience desired.

Additional Details

Training schedule is typically 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday. Normal work schedule is evening shifts 5 days per week either Monday - Friday, or Friday - Tuesday. Evening shift length is 8 hours beginning at 12:30pm with the ability to work overtime as needed. Weekly work schedules established by DCM managerial staff, including voluntary and in-voluntary weekend and holiday work schedules.

Working Conditions

• Daily work may involve moving on wet and/or slick surfaces, through narrow corridors between rows of cages, working outdoors, and climbing stairs to corral observation towers.
• Work where there is risk of exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals and sanitizing chemicals.
• Work in areas or in conditions that require fit testing and use of an N-95 respirator.

Physical Conditions

• Ability to lift and carry objects weighing up to 23 kg (50 lbs), and lift objects weighing approximately 19 kg (42 lbs) to approximately shoulder height.
• Ability to push and pull heavy wheeled equipment such as cage racks and loaded carts.

• Ability to move unassisted through various animal housing areas located in several separate buildings, indoor and outdoor, and in covered areas that are not environmentally controlled, in order to make animal observations, perform animal husbandry tasks, handle, move, or restrain animals, collect samples, administer treatments, and perform other procedures.  This involves moving on wet and/or slick surfaces, through narrow corridors between rows of cages, and climbing stairs to corral observation platforms.

Benefits 

• Healthcare for full-time employees covered 100% and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Vacation - up to 200 hours per year dependent on length of service.
• Sick Leave - up to 96 hours per year.
• 9 paid holidays per year.
• Substantial Tri-Met and C-Tran discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Childcare service discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts to local and national businesses.

Why apply to OHSU?