Veterinary Technician

SUNY Downstate Medical Center; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University seeks a full-time Instructional Support Technician / Veterinary Technician to provide clinical and technical support for animals in the institution's research facilities. This role focuses on candidate welfare, surgical assistance, anesthesia, and compliant animal care under veterinary direction.

The position reports to the Veterinary Technician Supervisor and works with veterinary staff, researchers, and animal care personnel.

Qualifications

• Experience in veterinary clinical care for laboratory animals.
• Familiarity with anesthesia and perioperative care in research settings.
• Ability to document animal health, welfare and procedures clearly.

Responsibilities

• Conduct vivarium rounds, observe animal health, welfare and behavior.
• Identify animals needing veterinary attention and assist in triaging.
• Administer treatments and assist with diagnostic testing and examinations.
• Support rodent health surveillance and enrichment per IACUC.
• Prepare operating rooms and assist throughout perioperative care.
• Maintain accurate records and assist with SOPs and quality assurance.
• Collaborate with investigators and staff to ensure animal welfare.

Skills

Veterinary clinical care

Surgical assistance

Animal welfare

Anesthesia support

Tools

Sterilization equipment

Animal handling tools

Job description

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

Job Summary

The Veterinary Technician provides veterinary clinical and technical support for animals maintained in the institution's research facilities. The Veterinary Technician supports the health and welfare of laboratory animals, assists with surgical procedures and anesthesia, performs clinical observations and prescribed treatments, and helps ensure that animal care and research activities comply with applicable federal and state requirements and institutional policies. The position supports a variety of research animal species, including USDA-covered species such as non-human primates, swine, sheep, and rabbits, and works closely with veterinary staff, researchers, and animal care personnel.

The position reports to the Veterinary Technician Supervisor and receives clinical direction from the facility Veterinarian, as needed.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Clinical Care and Animal Welfare

• Conduct daily morning and afternoon vivarium rounds; observe, assess, and document animal health, welfare, and behavior, including signs of illness, injury, or psychological distress.
• Identify animals requiring veterinary attention; communicate concerns promptly and assist in triaging emergencies and coordinating follow-up care.
• Administer treatments prescribed by the facility veterinarian; collect biological samples, assist with diagnostic testing and physical examinations, and support care during quarantine or semiannual testing.
• Assist with rodent health surveillance, animal census activities, and species-specific enrichment and behavioral monitoring.
• Provide and document animal enrichment and implement approved exemptions from enrichment or social housing in accordance with IACUC protocols.

Surgical and Anesthesia Support

• Prepare operating rooms, surgical packs, instruments, equipment, and supplies for research procedures, including sterilization and readiness checks.
• Provide technical support throughout preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care for research animals, including non-human primates, swine, sheep, and rabbits.
• Assist with administration and monitoring of anesthesia, including in-depth monitoring and constant-rate infusions for large animal species, under veterinary direction.
• Provide prescribed postoperative treatments and monitoring, document recovery, and collaborate with investigators and laboratory personnel to improve surgical maintenance and recovery procedures.
• Handle, transfer, and/or administer controlled substances only as authorized and in accordance with applicable procedures.

Research Compliance, Documentation, and Quality Assurance

• Maintain accurate clinical, surgical, behavioral, enrichment, training, and animal census records, including required documentation for USDA-covered species.
• Enter animal health cases and required information into the designated electronic systems, including SharePoint and the Division of Comparative Medicine database.
• Record procedural, technical, and veterinary supply charges in the departmental database and support accurate animal census information used for billing.
• Communicate animal welfare concerns and potential noncompliance issues to veterinary and departmental leadership, principal investigators, and appropriate research staff.
• Liaise with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) regarding required enrichment and behavioral-monitoring documentation and approved exemptions.
• Assist with post-approval monitoring, including protocols involving controlled water access when assigned, and maintain official records under institutional retention requirements.
• Participate in routine facility quality-assurance activities, room checks, and the review and revision of standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Training, Collaboration, and Departmental Support

• Teach and demonstrate humane, safe animal handling, procedural techniques, and appropriate use of laboratory and surgical equipment to researchers, technicians, students, and other personnel.
• Collaborate with principal investigators, research staff, veterinary staff, and animal care personnel to support research activities while maintaining animal welfare standards.
• Maintain equipment in working order and assist with veterinary supply inventory and stock.
• Provide responsive service to investigators and laboratory staff and work collaboratively in a dynamic research environment.
• Participate in occasional evening, weekend, or on-call rotations and provide coverage for colleagues as operationally required.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.