Research Technician II (Animal Technician)

University Health Network; Toronto; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

HOOPP pension plan

Transit access

Flexible work environment

Development opportunities

Corporate discounts

Job summary

University Health Network seeks a motivated Animal Technician / Animal Procedure Support to back preclinical studies using rats and pigs. The role focuses on planning, conducting, and documenting animal procedures within established research protocols, ensuring high standards of welfare and safety.

The Tessier Lab role involves interdisciplinary collaboration across researchers, veterinarians, and animal-care staff to advance organ preservation and transplantation research.

Qualifications

• At minimum, Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, required.
• Training in Animal Health Technology, Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Biomedical Sciences an asset.
• At least 3 years of hands-on related experience; experience with lab animals (rats/pigs) is an asset.
• Demonstrated interest in animal care, preclinical research, and translational biomedical research.
• Ability to learn and follow established protocols for animal handling, restraint, monitoring, and research procedures.
• Strong commitment to animal welfare, ethical research practices, and laboratory safety.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate animal-care and research documentation.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on support for preclinical research studies involving laboratory animals, particularly rats and pigs.
• Assist with planning, preparation, and execution of animal procedures in line with approved protocols and institutional requirements.
• Prepare animals, equipment, supplies, medications, and procedure areas prior to scheduled activities.
• Assist researchers and animal-care personnel with animal handling, restraint, monitoring, and post-procedure care.
• Monitor animal health and well-being before, during, and after procedures and report concerns.
• Maintain accurate records of animal procedures, observations, and study-related activities.
• Support maintenance and inventory of animal-related equipment, supplies, and materials.
• Collaborate with researchers, veterinarians, and animal-care staff for safe, compliant preclinical studies.

Skills

Attention to detail

Documentation

Team collaboration

Protocol following

Animal welfare focus

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Willingness to learn

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Animal Health Technology / Veterinary Technology / Animal Science / Biomedical Sciences (asset)

3 years hands-on related experience

Job description

Company Description

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Company Description

UHN is Canada’s #1 hospital and the world’s #1 publicly funded hospital. With 10 sites and more than 44,000 TeamUHN members, UHN consists of Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, The Michener Institute of Education and West Park Healthcare Centre. As Canada's top research hospital, the scope of biomedical research and complexity of cases at UHN have made it a national and international source for discovery, education and patient care. UHN has the largest hospital-based research program in Canada, with major research in neurosciences, cardiology, transplantation, oncology, surgical innovation, infectious diseases, genomic medicine and rehabilitation medicine. UHN is a research hospital affiliated with the University of Toronto.

UHN’s vision is to build A Healthier World and it’s only because of the talented and dedicated people who work here that we are continually bringing that vision closer to reality.

www.uhn.ca

Job Description

Union: Non-Union

Number of vacancies: 1

New or Replacement Position: New

Site: Princess Margaret Cancer Research Tower

Department: Peter Munk Cardiac Centre Research Institute

Reports to: Senior Scientist

Salary Range: $60,496 - $75,620 annually

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Shifts: Day

Status: Permanent Full-time

Closing Date: October 20, 2026

The Tessier Lab is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Animal Technician / Animal Procedure Support professional to support preclinical research studies involving laboratory animals.

The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary research program focused on overcoming challenges in organ preservation and transplantation through innovative, biologically inspired engineering approaches. The position provides an opportunity to support translational biomedical research aimed at advancing organ preservation technologies and increasing access to organ transplantation.

Candidates with practical experience working with laboratory animals, particularly rats and pigs, are particularly encouraged to apply. Candidates without direct laboratory animal experience who demonstrate a strong willingness to learn and develop new technical skills are also encouraged to apply.

The ideal candidate will be a reliable, organized, and collaborative team member capable of supporting the planning, preparation, conduct, monitoring, and documentation of animal studies while maintaining high standards of animal welfare, research quality, and laboratory safety.

Duties

• Provide hands-on support for preclinical research studies involving laboratory animals, particularly rats and pigs.
• Assist with the planning, preparation, and execution of animal procedures in accordance with approved research protocols and institutional requirements.
• Prepare animals, equipment, supplies, medications, and procedure areas prior to scheduled research activities.
• Assist researchers and animal-care personnel with animal handling, restraint, monitoring, and post-procedure care.
• Monitor animal health and well-being before, during, and after procedures and promptly report any concerns or unexpected observations.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of animal procedures, observations, treatments, and study-related activities.
• Support the maintenance, organization, and inventory of animal-related equipment, supplies, and research materials.
• Collaborate closely with researchers, veterinarians, and animal-care staff to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant conduct of preclinical studies.

Qualifications

• At minimum, Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, required
  • Training in Animal Health Technology, Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Biomedical Sciences an asset
• At least 3 years of experience hands-on related experience
  • Experience working with laboratory animals, particularly rats and/or pigs, is an asset
• Demonstrated interest in animal care, preclinical research, and translational biomedical research.
• Ability to learn and follow established protocols for animal handling, restraint, monitoring, and research procedures.
• Strong commitment to animal welfare, ethical research practices, and laboratory safety.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate animal-care and research documentation.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively with researchers, veterinarians, and animal-care personnel in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Highly motivated, reliable, organized, and willing to develop new technical skills through training and hands-on experience.

Additional Information

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates. Please ensure you check your email regularly. At University Health Network (UHN), artificial intelligence technologies may be used to assist in the screening, assessment, and selection of candidates for this position.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.