Habituation Technician I - Vet Services

Job Summary

Assist with performing appropriate acclimations for all animals to prepare them for study procedures. Assist with providing appropriate enrichments to the animals’ structural and social environments and provide opportunities for species-typical activities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

⦁    Handle animals as required to perform acclimations that precondition animals for study procedures
⦁    Implement basic operant conditioning plans to modify animal behavior
⦁    Maintain, track and review data related to acclimation and enrichment programs

⦁    Receive deliveries of foodstuff items, label items, and ensure proper storage. 
⦁    Assist with food prep and enrichment stock organization and cleanliness 
⦁    Assist with providing appropriate enrichments to the animals’ structural and social environments and provide opportunities for species-typical activities. 

⦁    Assist with the distribution for client specific enrichment per protocols 
⦁    Assist with building and maintaining enrichment devices
⦁    Assist with evaluation of new enrichment devices and provide input on strategies for individually and socially housed animals.
⦁    Work closely with the veterinary and animal care staff to ensure proper animal care standards are maintained.
⦁    Maintain documentation for the Behavioral Management Program including data review

⦁    May be needed to provide support in other Lab Animal Medicine groups
⦁    Perform all other related duties as assigned.

The pay range for this position is $21.00 an hour.   Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

Job Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:
⦁    Education: GED + 1 year experience or Bachelors degree (preferred) or Associates degree (or equivalent in animal or life sciences or related discipline). 
⦁    Experience:  1+ years experience in animal research and/or husbandry; multi-species experience preferred or must have fully satisfied technical and experience requirements for the previous level. 
⦁    An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
⦁    Certification/Licensure:  AALAS certification at the ALAT level preferred
⦁    Other:  Ability to handle common laboratory species.  Proficient in basic technical skills and the operation of data collection equipment. Knowledge of GLP’s and other federal regulations and guidelines relating to the care of laboratory animals. Understanding of routine study design and protocols.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
⦁    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and lift.  
⦁    Must be able to regularly lift and manipulate up to 50 pounds on a repetitive basis each day over approximately 1 to 75 ft.
⦁    Must be able to regularly push wheeled carts weighing up to 1200 pounds on a repetitive basis each day over a distance of approximately 1 to 100 ft.
⦁    Duties require regularly standing for an average of 8 hours a day.
⦁    Must be able to regularly manipulate objects on shelves from one and one-half to six and one-half feet above the floor on a repetitive basis each day.
⦁    Must be able to regularly read, understand, and follow written procedures.
⦁    Must be able to occasionally work in spaces as narrow as 2 feet.
⦁    Must be able to frequently accurately record data by hand.
⦁    Must be able to perform procedures, which require, talking, hearing, standing or sitting for long periods of time, entering data into a computer, using appropriate instruments, reaching with hands and arms, working in narrow spaces, and wearing safety equipment (PPE) according to OSHA regulations and company standards.
⦁    Must be able to frequently firmly hold species while utilizing fine motor skills.  
⦁    Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
⦁    Works in a research environment, which requires use of sharp objects, working around mechanical parts, working with or near known or unknown toxic or caustic chemicals and/or biological hazards, exposure to fumes and airborne particles, working at noise levels ranging from moderate to loud.
⦁    The employee regularly works with live animals with risk of exposure to allergens, zoonotic disease, and biohazards.  
⦁    The noise level in the work environment ranges from low to high depending upon the species housed. Noise protection is provided.  

Comments: 
⦁    This position requires overtime, weekend, holiday, and/or after hours shift coverage, as needed.