Part-Time Lab Animal Care Technician

Chapman University; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Chapman University in Orange, CA, seeks a Part-Time Lab Animal Care Technician to support research activities using animal models. Under the Vivarium Supervisor, you will perform daily husbandry, monitor animal health, feed and water, change cages, document activities, and sanitize holding rooms on a weekend- and holiday-rotating schedule.

Located on the Rinker Campus, this on-site role requires meticulous record-keeping, adherence to SOPs, and collaboration with veterinary and investigator

Qualifications

• Animal handling required. Must be willing to work with rodents, fish, and birds.
• Must be comfortable working with animals in a research setting.
• Must be willing to work weekends.
• Must be willing to work certain holidays on a rotational basis.
• Ability to maintain detailed and accurate daily record keeping.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily animal welfare checks, and report abnormalities to the veterinary staff or investigator staff for disposition
• Perform routine husbandry including changing cages at scheduled intervals, and provide appropriate feed, water, and enrichment
• Document daily animal husbandry activities in a computerized database system
• Prepare and stock animal rooms with feed, water and other supplies as directed, and for coverage on days off
• Assure that the appropriate cage cards are in place and count animals based upon protocol, project, cage card, or other parameters for regulatory and billing purposes
• Follow biosecurity practices to minimize cross contamination
• Perform duties in accordance with the Animal Care and Use Program Handbook and Vivarium SOPs
• Provide feedback for maintenance of SOPs
• Sanitize animals holding room and assigned support areas
• Use appropriate disinfectants and cleaning agents to disinfect and sanitize in and around animal holding areas and prior to receipt of animals on a scheduled basis
• Work with sterilized equipment taking precautions to avoid cross contamination
• Perform room environmental checks daily including recording temperature and humidity, overall room condition, and room sanitation
• Maintain appropriate feed and inventory logs to track regular usage and to assure feed is used within the appropriate amount of time to ensure freshness
• Complete records as needed for various assurances to animal welfare agencies, including the IACUC
• Communicates animal care issues to Vivarium Manager, co-workers, investigator, and investigator staff
• Participates in training sessions, attends scheduled staff meetings and continuing education activities

Skills

Animal handling

Weekend work

Record keeping

Communication

Education

ALAT preferred

Job description

Position Title:

Part-Time Lab Animal Care Technician

Position Type:

Limited-Term (Renewable)

Job Number:

SA91124

Full or Part Time:

part-time 0-19 hours weekly

Fair Labor Standard Act Classification:

Non-Exempt

Anticipated Pay Range:

$20.00 -$24.00

Pay Range Information:

Chapman University is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this position. This range takes into account a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Salary offers are determined based on the final candidate’s qualifications and experience, as well as internal equity and other internal factors. The anticipated pay range is not a promise of a particular wage.

Job Description Summary:

This position is a part-time appointment that will be integral to facilitating research activities at Chapman University that utilize animal models. Under the direction of the Vivarium Supervisor, responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the daily husbandry care of small laboratory animals, including monitoring and reporting animal health status, providing feed and water, changing cages, environmental monitoring, documenting animal room activities, and sanitizing assigned animal holding rooms and support areas in accordance with SOPs, and other duties as required.

This position is located on the Rinker Campus and requires weekend and holiday availability.

Responsibilities:

Animal Welfare Assessments and Husbandry Care

• Perform daily animal welfare checks, and report abnormalities to the veterinary staff or investigator staff for disposition
• Perform routine husbandry including changing cages at scheduled intervals, and provide appropriate feed, water, and enrichment
• Document daily animal husbandry activities in a computerized database system
• Prepare and stock animal rooms with feed, water and other supplies as directed, and for coverage on days off
• Assure that the appropriate cage cards are in place and count animals based upon protocol, project, cage card, or other parameters for regulatory and billing purposes
• Follow biosecurity practices to minimize cross contamination
• Perform duties in accordance with the Animal Care and Use Program Handbook and Vivarium SOPs
• Provide feedback for maintenance of SOPs

Facility/Room Sanitation

• Sanitize animals holding room and assigned support areas
• Use appropriate disinfectants and cleaning agents to disinfect and sanitize in and around animal holding areas and prior to receipt of animals on a scheduled basis
• Work with sterilized equipment taking precautions to avoid cross contamination

Record Keeping

• Perform room environmental checks daily including recording temperature and humidity, overall room condition, and room sanitation
• Maintain appropriate feed and inventory logs to track regular usage and to assure feed is used within the appropriate amount of time to ensure freshness
• Complete records as needed for various assurances to animal welfare agencies, including the IACUC

Communication and Training

• Communicates animal care issues to Vivarium Manager, co-workers, investigator, and investigator staff
• Participates in training sessions, attends scheduled staff meetings and continuing education activities

Required Qualifications:

• Animal handling required. Must be willing to work with rodents, fish, and birds.
• Must be comfortable working with animals in a research setting.
• Must be willing to work weekends.
• Must be willing to work certain holidays on a rotational basis.
• Ability to maintain detailed and accurate daily record keeping.

Desired Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of applicable policies, guidelines, and regulations.
• Working knowledge of laws and regulations that govern the housing and management of laboratory animals.
• Knowledge or background with veterinary treatments and administrations.
• Experience in a laboratory animal setting.
• ALAT preferred.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

At Chapman University, we believe collaboration thrives through in-person engagement. This position is fully on campus, and employees work alongside colleagues, faculty, students, and staff each day to support our vibrant university community.

Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law.

Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.

Minimum Number of References:

2

Maximum Number of References:

4