Careers

Laboratory Animal Resources/Research Resources - Rodent Animal Care Technician
(Animal Technician II)
Work Hours:6:00 AM to 2:30 PM from Monday through Friday and supervisor scheduled weekends/holidays/weather emergencies/university closings.

Summary:
The Laboratory Animal Resource (LAR) group at Princeton University is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Dean for Research and is responsible for animal and veterinary care of all research animals at Princeton University. The Animal Technician for the Life Sciences Complex provides state-of-the art animal care for laboratory animals housed within these facilities. He/she receives direction from the LAR Facility Manager. The primary responsibility is to provide animal care to the various laboratory species (rodents, aquatics, and USDA-covered species), the majority will be in the care of rodents. The Animal Technician ensures the cleanliness of the facility and the maintenance of adequate supplies of food and bedding materials, including PPE. The Animal Technician will work together with other technicians according to a schedule prepared by the LAR Manager and must be willing and able to rotate through all LAR facilities. The Animal Technician pursues and improves methods of animal husbandry and resource utilization. He/she ensures the highest quality of laboratory animal care and research support, and has good communication skills with co-workers, the LAR management team, PI’s, research staff, students, facility maintenance crews and other support services. This position reports directly to the Facility Manager.
Animal Husbandry:

• Animal Technicians are considered essential services staff. Essential service staff performs jobs that are necessary and required to maintain basic University operations during scheduled or unscheduled work closures due to emergencies, events or other situations.
• Provides animal care for all species housed according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including giving food and water to the animals, changing cages, sanitizing all supplies (cages, water bottles, food bins and other animal care related equipment), maintaining clean animal rooms, procedure rooms, hallways and other support areas, and keeping records related to animal care.
• Completes work in a timely fashion and according to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and follows other written and verbal instructions as needed.
• Monitors animal health and welfare daily and reports sick and dead animals to the responsible researcher and Veterinary Services. Provides treatments to laboratory animals as prescribed by researchers and/or Veterinary Services.
• Monitors, documents and reports deviations of normal, species-specific and environmental parameters such room temperature, humidity, lights and air quality.
• Provides innovative and species-specific environmental enrichment of laboratory animals under the direction of Veterinary Services and according to research needs.
• Conduct AM and PM animal health observations.
• Operates cage washing machinery, ventilated caging, Edstrom watering system, bedding dispensing units, full size to table top autoclaves and other animal care equipment typical of animal care operations while following safety procedures.
• Assists with transgenic rodent breeding colony management. Demonstrates ability to perform tissue sample collection, set up mating pairs, wean animals, and track data in various software applications.
• Discovers and reports any facility maintenance issues to the Lead Animal Technician and Facility Manager.

*Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination is required for all Priority One positions.

Candidate must have a high school diploma or GED and must have at least two years experience working with animals in a laboratory animal facility.  A diploma in a related science field or equivalent is desired. AALAS certification is preferred and laboratory animal experience is required. Salary will be commensurate with experience and AALAS certification level. Preferred skills include experience with:  animal care and husbandry, cagewash procedures, minor technical procedures, multiple species a plus, and recording keeping. “Applicant may be required  to travel to different facilities in Maryland basically; Bethesda, Silver Spring, College Park and Laurel" Applicant must be reliable, able to work independently, and interact professionally with the research staff. Applicant must be flexible and learn quickly; be able to stand for prolong periods, bend, reach, and climb. Demonstrated math and reading comprehension and good English oral and written communication skills are required.