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

 

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.

 

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

 

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)

 

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.

 

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 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:

• Possession of a valid Driver's License and ability t