Veterinary Research/Health Technician 1

Department Overview:

The Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) is located 12 miles west of the OHSU main campus, and sits on 162 acres of land featuring forested areas, research and administration buildings, indoor and outdoor animal housing, and 2-mile perimeter walking path. Our mission is to improve human health and the quality of life through the support of nonhuman primate research programs that advance our knowledge of the causes, preventions, treatments, and cures of debilitating diseases.

Function/Duties of Position:

Provide research support, routine health care and animal husbandry for animals maintained at the Oregon National Primate Research Center.  The primary function of this position is to perform the manual and technical husbandry tasks directly related to the care of, and research support for the use of, laboratory animals.  Duties must be performed in a professional manner and will require contact with investigative staff.  The area of work assignment and specific tasks will vary, depending on animal populations and care requirements, service requirements, and staffing needs, during regular and non-regular working hours, including weekends, holidays, or on an overtime basis.

 

Key Responsibilities & Performance Standards

 

1. Research Support Services:

Responsible for, assist with, coordinate, and complete a large volume of tasks following various clearly defined and established research protocols and procedures, in support of laboratory animals used in research; participate in the development, coordination and implementation of institution-wide animal care and use procedures; implement established procedures and policies governing the safe and humane care and use of laboratory animals; safely perform (using proper techniques) standard veterinary procedures, including but not limited to venipuncture, medication dose calculations, administration of medications via intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and oral routes; collect body fluids.

 

2. Animal Health Care Services:

Participate in general animal health surveillance by observing animals in all housing configurations, recognizing abnormalities in physical condition or behavior, and reporting and recording observations to the clinical veterinarian or research staff; perform animal health  procedures such as weighing, TB testing, and blood collections; capture, restrain, identify, and sex common varieities of laboratory animals, and the transport animals in support of veterinary, husbandry or investigative procedures

 

3. Animal Husbandry:

Feed and water animals; sanitize animal primary housing, shelters, equipment and facilities (sweep, mop, scrub, wash and disinfect floors, walls, ceilings, sinks and other equipment); assist with facility maintenance (e.g., replace drinking water valves; simple surface preparation and painting, replace lighting bulbs or tubes, etc.); unload and store feed bags(25-50 lbs each); assist with group-housed animal capture ("roundup") and animal processing; provide care of animals in the nursery; operate equipment (including but not limited to cage washers, floor scrubbers, autoclaves, pressure washers, scales and veterinary care instruments).

 

4. Complete and submit data processing forms; using computer keyboard, access and/or input information from the computerized animal record files; assist with acquisition and maintenance of all appropriate regulatory, research, and animal records and reports.

 

5. Other duties as assigned, to meet the goals of the Division      

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• High School Diploma or GED

Experience:

• Six months experience providing paid or voluntary  care for animals

Job Related Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Competencies):

• Professional and service-oriented attitude
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to consistently interact with research investigative staff, supervisors and co-workers in a positive and contructive manner
• Ability to use proper techniques to safely perform standard clinical procedures (including ability to accurately calculate medication dosages)
• Possess sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform (or learn to perform) basic animal husbandry and animal handling (using proper techniques)
• Ability to use computer keyboard; ability to read, write, and follow oral and written isntructions
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and/or written formats with both technical and professional staff

Registrations, Certifications and/or Licenses:

• Possession of a valid Driver's License and ability to drive ARRS/ONRPC vehicles on and off campus as required

Preferred Qualifications:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in related field preferred

Experience:

• 18 months experience in the health care of experimental animals in a research setting and/or as a veterinary technician or assistant highly preferred

• Six months experience providing husbandry for animals paid or voluntary (i.e., watering, feeding, changing bedding, housing, checking animal's health, etc.)

• As an on-the-job trained position, it is not required to have prior experience with laboratory animals

• Basic knowledge of the care of animals can be demonstrated through the care of pets, farm animals or 4-H animals

Registrations, Certifications and/or Licenses:

• Certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science at the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician level (ALAT), or equivalent combination of training and experience desired

Additional Details:

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Daily work may involve moving on wet and/or slick surfaces, through narrow corridors between rows of cages, working outdoors, and climbing stairs to corral observation towers
• Perform work in covered and uncovered areas that are not environmentally controlled
• Work in areas where there is risk of exposure to zoonotic agents through injury, by direct contact with animals or their tissues and body fluids, or by contact with equipment contaminated by animals or their tissues and body fluids
• Work where there is risk of exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals and sanitizing chemicals
• Work in areas or in conditions that require fit testing and use of an N-95 respirator
• Weekly work schedules established by ARRS leadership staff and may include voluntary and mandatory overtime, and holiday work schedules

PHYSICAL DEMANDS & EQUIPMENT USAGE: 

• Possess sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform basic animal husbandry and animal handling (using proper techniques)
• Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 23 kg (50 lbs), and lift objects weighing approximately 19 kg (42 lbs) to approximately shoulder height
• Able to push and pull heavy wheeled equipment such as cage racks and loaded carts
• Able to move unassisted through various animal housing areas located in several separate buildings, indoor and outdoor
• Possess sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform (or learn to perform) basic animal husbandry and animal handling (using proper techniques), and health care procedures, including but not limited to feeding and sanitization procedures, animal capture and restraint, administration of medications, and collection of body fluids and tissues

All are welcome: Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.