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, a pond, 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
The purpose of the Veterinary Research/Health Technician 2, Equipment Sanitation Technician, is to provide research support, routine health care, and husbandry, for laboratory animals maintained at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. The primary function of this position is to provide laboratory animals with sanitized primary housing in accordance with federal regulation and guidelines, to perform the research support tasks, routine health care, and manual and technical husbandry tasks, which are directly related to the care of laboratory animals. This includes cleaning, sanitizing and sterilizing animal primary housing and equipment following strict protocols. 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. Duties must be performed in a professional manner and will require contact with investigative staff. This classification is distinguished by the increased responsibility and accountability related to animal care protocols, and accountabilities related to support of research protocols. Employees in this class have greater freedom to determine work priorities and require less instruction or direct supervision.
Key Responsibilities & Performance Standards
- 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 while balancing the requirements of equipment sanitation 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), equipment sanitation, 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.
- Equipment Sanitation & Animal Husbandry: Exchange non-human primate cages by removing animal from cage using a transfer box. Transfer animal to clean cage. Transport dirty cages and/or racks to designated wash area. Clean and sanitize cages, racks and/or group housing enclosures. Includes operation of a mechanical cage washer, lift trucks, forklifts, pressure washers, foamers. Perform routine sanitization of animal primary housing, shelters, equipment and facilities. Includes sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, washing and disinfection of floors, walls, ceiling, sinks and other equipment. Operate floor scrubbers, autoclaves, forklift, lift trucks and pressure washers, foamers, and dispensing units. Inspect cages and/or racks for damage; remove damaged cages and/or racks and report the needed repairs. Recognize and report problems with facilities (i.e., inappropriate room temperatures, leaking or broken water pipes, plugged drains, damaged surfaces, etc.). Perform simple facility maintenance tasks, including but not limited to replacing drinking water valves, replace lighting, etc. Feed and water animals.
- 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 varieties of laboratory animals, and the transport animals in support of veterinary, husbandry or investigative procedures.
- 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. Assists in training both new and incumbent department employees and others.
Other duties as assigned, to meet the goals of the Division.
Required Qualifications
Education:
- High School diploma or GED
Experience:
- Two years of experience caring for animals in a research setting and certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science at the Assistant Lab Animal Technician level (ALAT) or ability to obtain certification following 12 months of employment; OR
- One year of experience caring for animals in a research setting and certification by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science at the Lab Animal Technician level (LAT) or ability to obtain certification following 12 months of employment; OR
- An equivalent combination of training, certification and experience
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 constructive 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 instructions
- Ability to communicate effectively in oral and/or written formats with both technical and professional staff
Registrations, Certifications and/or Licenses:
- Valid Driver's License and the ability to drive DCM/ONPRC vehicles on and off campus. May be required to complete an FBI security risk assessment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in science, preferably in related field such as Animal Sciences, Biology, Physiology, etc.
Additional Details
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Daily work may involve moving on wet and/or slick surfaces, through narrow corridors between rows of cages, and climbing stairs to corral observation towers; perform work in covered 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 DCM leadership staff, including voluntary and mandatory weekend, overtime, and holiday work schedules. May involve work inside an ABSL3 facility.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & EQUIPMENT USAGE:
- 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, in order to make animal observations, perform animal husbandry tasks, handle, move, or restrain animals, collect samples, administer treatments, and perform other procedures
- 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.
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