High school or equivalent; no experience required.
Job Description:
To assist in providing care of laboratory animals in a humane, safe and sanitary manner including duties associated with cage washing, sanitation and preparation of animal research facilities.
Job Duties:
Cage Washing:
Prepares soiled caging for washing. Operates washing equipment and ensures proper working order during daily operating procedures, routine cleaning, and preventive maintenance. Operates autoclave to sterilize or decontaminate caging equipment. Performs daily quality control checks and documents effectiveness of cleaning and sanitizing. Assembles clean and sanitized caging for distribution according to supply orders. Maintains sanitary conditions of cage washing rooms and other ancillary areas, such as hallways and storage areas. Disposes of soiled waste and trash. Transports caging and supplies between animal rooms and cage washing rooms.
Husbandry:
Provides daily husbandry care, including feeding and watering, for all species. Changes and sanitizes animal caging as scheduled. Maintains enrichment program as specified for each species. Sanitizes rooms, equipment and hallways as scheduled. Documents daily, weekly and monthly duties accurately. Observes animals for behavior change and/or evidence of disease and notifies veterinary staff as appropriate. Receives transports and distributes incoming animals as specified. Ensures accurate cage cards and census. Provides specialized animal care, including quarantine, biohazard and sterile housing. Ensures equipment in animal rooms are functioning properly.
Cage Washing and Husbandry:
Adheres to internal controls and reporting structure. Attends in-house training programs to become more knowledgeable in the field of laboratory animal science. Provides superior customer service. Follows safety precautions and wears correct protective equipment. Follows rules and regulations related to laboratory animal care.
Marginal or Periodic Job Functions:
May assist ARC logistics team with transport of caging or materials and with the receipt and storage of supplies. Performs related duties as required.
Equipment:
Industrial type cage and rack washers, autoclaves, pallet jacks, animal caging and racks. Support equipment used in a laboratory animal science multi-species facility and standard office equipment.
Working Environment/Location of Position:
Standard research facility environment. Able to lift 50 pounds. Work weekends, holidays, and some overtime when needed. Frequent contact with animal allergens, such as hair and dander. Frequent exposure to animal odors, heat and humidity from cage washing rooms, and chemicals used in the cleaning process. Possible contact with zoonotic diseases and or research materials could be hazardous to a fetus. Potential exposure to radiation and biohazards.
Salary Range:
Commensurate with experience Equal Employment Opportunity UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
