Lab Animal Technician

Laboratory Animal Medical Services (LAMS) at the University of Cincinnati provides husbandry and veterinary care to all vertebrate animals used in research, teaching, and testing.

We are seeking to a Lab Animal Technician (LAT) position. The successful candidate may be appointed to a LAT 1 or LAT 2 based on qualifications, experience, and skills. This position will provide food, water, and basic husbandry care; observe animals to assess health, change cages, and provide support cleaning and/or sanitizing caging equipment. If you love caring for animals, are customer service driven, have good communication skills and organizational skills, have self-starting abilities, effective troubleshooting and problem solving, and want to be a part of a highly talented and committed team, this may be the job for you.

LAMS also has a flexible start time, overtime pay availability, and an Upward Mobility program that allows you to be promoted when eligible to the next level with a pay increase.

UNUSUAL WORKING CONDITIONS: Subject to animal bites and diseases; exposure to animal waste, urine, feces, blood, dander (allergens), and odors; exposure to dust, hot water and steam.

Perform duties of Laboratory Animal Aide (LAA) positions plus:

• Maintain sanitation and husbandry programs for a variety of animal species, housing systems, and equipment in accordance with written SOPs. Maintain records on daily log sheets and other forms in accordance with SOPs. Provide basic and special care for cage level barrier housed transgenic and knockout genetically engineered rodents.
• Observe, record, and report on the health status of animals; determine acceptability of an animal to be maintained in university facilities. Receive, properly identify, and transfer animals to holding cages based on written, oral, or picture directions. Monitor environmental conditions for a variety of animal species (temperature, relative humidity, illumination requirements, air flow, etc.) and report out-of-range conditions to Laboratory Animal Medical Services (LAMS) management. Report any facility problems to LAMS management.
• Assist the veterinary clinical staff with restraint and treatment of animals; administer medications and special diets; collect specimens/samples. Maintain records on daily observations and report any and all observed health problems.
• Assist research staff, LAMS staff, and students with restraint of animals and special housing per supervisor approved service requests.
• Assist with the maintenance of rodent breeding programs, including weaning and identification.
• Maintain equipment and perform minor repairs; operate cage washers, autoclaves, and laundry washers and dryers. Prepare special protective clothing for use in barrier animal holding areas.
• Assist with training of LAAs. May coordinate the work of LAA positions.
• Perform related duties based on departmental need.

Perform duties of Laboratory Animal Technician 1 (LAT 1) position, plus:

• Provide on-the-job training for Laboratory Animal Aid (LAA) and LAT 1 positions.
• Maintain the receiving area, including bar coding; receive and transport animals and supplies; verify and sign incoming orders; prepare appropriate forms and records; coordinate appropriate staffing for receiving activities.
• Assist in monitoring sanitation quality control programs.
• Provide training and instructions to other animal care personnel.
• May coordinate the work of LAA and LAT 1 positions.
• Perform related duties based on departmental need.

Minimum Requirements for LAT 2:

• Must meet the minimum qualifications of an LAT 1, plus any combination of experience, degree or AALAS certification or vocational school diploma/certification (animal care).
• Some positions may require a current valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

High School Diploma or GED.

Some positions may require a current valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

One (1) year of related experience.