Animal Research Technician

The Division of Comparative Medicine in the College of Medicine at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a full-time Instructional Support Associate / Animal Research Technician.

Job Summary 

The Animal Research Technician reports to the Veterinary Services Manager in the Division of Comparative Medicine (DCM) but will also take clinical direction from the facility Veterinarian(s) as necessary. The position requires strong communication and analysis skills. 

Key Responsibilities & Duties

• Morning and afternoon daily rounds of assigned animal rooms in the vivarium to assess and document their health status. Specifically working with NHPs including identifying animals exhibiting signs of psychological stress. All health cases must be entered into SharePoint.
• Regular communication with Principal Investigators and their staff as well as other DCM staff about non-compliance issues discovered on rounds like sick or dead animals and any other issues that violate DCM policies and procedures, as well as to brainstorm strategies for treating animals but particularly primates displaying concerning or abnormal behaviors.
• Administer treatments prescribed by facility veterinarian as well as any necessary follow-up care. This will include the routine collection of biological tissues samples, performing diagnostic tests and physical examination to maintain compliance with state and federal laws. Especially while primates are in quarantine, semi-annual testing and without direct supervision. Any of the above duties may require lifting heavy animals and administering of controlled substances.
• Animal census management and review including working with Principal Investigators and their staff to correct animal census records in the DCM Database.
• Prepares operating rooms for procedures, create and autoclave surgical packs, acts as support during in-depth anesthesia. Monitoring for large animal species, active participation in surgeries, and provide post-operative care and treatments as prescribed and without direct supervision.
• Maintaining operating /procedure rooms inventory, stocking supplies, weekly and monthly eye wash station including maintaining equipment clean and in working order.
• Assist Veterinary Services Manager in animal health surveillance procedures.
• Take orders and distribute supplies to Investigators. This may include the intake, logging, administration and distribution of controlled substances when necessary and without supervision. Procedural, technical and/or vet supply charges must be entered into DCM database.
• Handling of fragile, expensive, flammable materials and equipment without direct supervision.
• NHP enrichment management, create, review, update and assign if necessary to other staff as needed for completion. Implement IACUC-approved exemptions from enrichment or social housing. Assist Vet Techs in animal enrichment program and other daily tasks.
• Sets up and/or creates & maintains a variety of official records that will be used to demonstrate compliance for various oversight bodies and should be kept in accordance with SUNY Downstate's record retention policy.
• Provide excellent customer service to Principal Investigators and their Research Laboratory staff.
• Teach and demonstrate proper, humane, and safe methodologies in using animals for research to research personnel and DCM staff especially in relation to working with the primates.
• Flexible, able to adapt to a dynamic work environment, highly detailed oriented, a dependable teammate working with other DCM staff and at times without supervision to provide the best animal care possible. May have to work occasional weekends and/or evenings, on call rotations.
• Provides assistance in the writing, revising and editing of SOPs as needed, especially primate related SOPs.
• Various other duties may also be assigned based on departmental needs.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED, plus 3-years of laboratory animal science experience;
  • Or, Associate of Arts/Associate of Science Degree, plus 2-years of laboratory animal science experience;
  • Or, High School Diploma or equivalent, plus laboratory animal science certification with 1-year of laboratory animal science experience.
  • Or, a satisfactory equivalent combination of experience, training and education to the above.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate Degree of Veterinary Technology with New York State Veterinary Technician License and/or LATG plus in-depth knowledge of standard laboratory procedures and techniques preferred.