General Information
| Job Description | ANML HEALTH TCHN 2 | Working Title | Animal Health Technician |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Code | 009536 | Grade | |
| Department Name | Office of Campus Veterinarian - D01159 | Department Head | Charles Greer |
| Supervisor | Akiko Sanders | Effective Date | 06/13/2022 |
Position(s) Directly Supervised
| Job Code | Title | FTE |
|---|
Department Custom Scope
| Oversees health status of all campus vivaria; develops appropriate policies and procedures and training to ensure the appropriate pathogen-free status and health levels for all research (of critical import for biomedical research) conducted by PIs who house their research animals. Make daily veterinary health surveillance rounds throughout the animal facilities. Performs standard paraveterinary health care procedures. Establishes and manages a rodent health surveillance program, manages in-house diagnostic testing and coordinates all activities that support the transfer and transport of laboratory animals between institutions and diagnostic laboratories. |
Education & Experience Requirements
Education Requirements
| Degree | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Possesses a B.S. in a field associated with laboratory animal care and medicine. | Preferred |
Experience Requirements
| Experience | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum of 2 years of related experience. | Required |
| Experience in a laboratory animal research setting. | Preferred |
License Requirements
| License | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Registered Veterinary Technician License (or completion of AVMA accredited Animal Health Technician program) | Required |
Certification Requirements
| Certification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| AALAS certification at Laboratory Animal Technician level | Preferred |
| AALAS certification at Laboratory Animal Technologist level | Preferred |
Educational Condition Requirements
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|
Key Responsibilities
| Description | % Time |
|---|---|
| Animal Health Program 1. Performs daily observations of animal colonies for signs of illness and follows-up on animals reported ill on Animal Health Reports. Investigates health concerns reported by all animal tech staff across the campus vivaria to ensure the humane care and use of laboratory animals and compliance with applicable regulations, guidelines, and standards. Reports animal care problems and concerns to the campus veterinarian for consultation, advice or instructions. Assist the veterinarian in examination, restraint, and treatment of all sick animals. Maintains current animal health reports, treatment and follow-up records. 2. Conducts certain veterinary diagnostic procedures, and maintains preventive medicine programs including routine parasitology on newly arriving animals, prophylaxis on established colonies, a rodent health surveillance (sentinel animal) program and submission of animals, tumors, and cell lines. 3. Performs gross necropsies in accordance with veterinarian's instructions and appropriately prepares specimens for laboratory processing. Maintains sanitized, well stocked, fully functioning and organized procedure rooms, necropsy room and surgical equipment. 4. Maintains current records of all medications ordered, stocked and dispensed. Administers any necessary medications or treatments as required. 5. Support experimental procedures; provide clinical research services to investigators. | 55 |
| Program Management 1. Educates personnel in proper routine handling and care of animals. Works with PIs on preparing and feeding special diets. Monitors all research activities in the vivaria to ensure compliance with animal use protocols. 2. Manages, schedules, and performs in-house diagnostic testing in support of a rodent health surveillance program. 3. Plans for the safe transportation of animals to and from UCR adhering to appropriate guidelines. a). Coordinate rodent importation from non-commercial sources including interpretation of rodent health reports and quarantine, coordination, facilitation of shipment of rodents to other research facilities. b). Animal receipt and quarantine and conditioning. c). Screening of all incoming animals. | 30 |
| Training 1. Participates in and/or conducts teaching activities by demonstrating techniques or procedures which are recorded and maintained as official documentation for regulatory compliance. 2. Provides training and direction to all animal technicians as well as graduate and undergraduate student researchers in identification methods, breeding set-up, preparation of special diets for experiment procedures, and proper techniques with animals such as animal restraint, bleeding and injecting. | 15 |
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
| Knowledge/Skill/Ability | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Able to work independently. | Required |
| Proficient skills in accurately calculating doses and concentrations. | Required |
| Possesses excellent oral/written communication and organizational skills. | Required |
| Able to work efficiently under pressure and in the face of many interruptions. | Required |
| Able to meet deadlines and maintain critical sanitation standards. | Required |
| Working knowledge of safety training and health standards required in animal care and use. | Required |
| Knowledgeable of regulations, accreditation standards and the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. | Required |
| Practices a high level of integrity and honesty in maintaining confidentiality. | Required |
| Demonstrates ingenuity, resourcefulness, and adaptability. | Required |
| Familiar with health and safety and animal welfare regulations as set forth by various accrediting bodies (AAALAC, USDA, Fish and Game) and IACUC. | Required |
| Able to recognize abnormalities in behavior of laboratory animals and signs which indicate disease. | Required |
| Proficient skills in handling and restraining laboratory animals. | Required |
| Knowledge of basic anesthesia principles. | Required |
| Proficient skills in the blood and urine collection. | Required |
| Proficient skills in preparing animals for surgery and necropsy and proper method of euthanasia. | Required |
| Special training in animal nursing. | Required |
| Proficient skills in teaching and supervising biomedical procedures. | Required |
| Familiar with federal, state, UC, UCR policies, procedures, objectives, performance standards, safety, environmental, and infection control guidelines. | Preferred |
Special Requirements & Conditions
| Special Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Occasional travel for university related business meetings, conferences and/or professional development. | Required |
Other Special Requirements & Conditions
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Level of Supervision Received
| General Supervision |
Environment
Working Environment
| Campus |
Other Requirements
Items Used
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Physical Requirements
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Mental Requirements
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Environmental Requirements
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Critical Position
| Is Critical Position: Yes |