Veterinary Research/Health Technician 1

Department Overview

The Oregon National Primate 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, 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 tasks directly related to the care of, and research support for the use of, laboratory animals, particualary nonhuman primates and rodents.  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. Will require working an ABSL-3 environment.   

 

Research-Oriented Duties

• Assist with, and coordinate and complete, a large volume of tasks involving animal research to meet investigator requests. 
• Follow various complex research protocols and perform technical skills in a variety of investigative procedures, as determined by research protocols.
• Complete and submit data processing forms. 
• Using computer keyboards, access and/or input information from the computerized animal record files; Inventory and request supplies.
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Interact with the research investigative staff to accomplish their needs in a professional manner, with a service-oriented attitude. 
• Communicate clearly and professionally in both oral and written formats with co-workers, technical and professional staff.

Technical Duties

• Assist with and safely perform, under supervision (and using proper techniques), standard research support procedures on animals, including but not limited to  medication dose calculations; administration of medications via topical, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, and oral routes; collection of body fluids; perform animal health management procedures such as weighing, internal and external parasitology collection, TB testing, and venipuncture, (saphenous, marginal ear vein, cardiac puncture); capture, restraint, identification, and sexing of all common varieties of laboratory animals; and transportation of animals for various reasons, including clinical, research support, and housing needs.
• Observe animals in all housing configurations, recognize abnormalities in physical condition or behavior, and report and record observations to the clinical veterinarian or research staff.
• May implement medical orders within their competencies as authorized by managerial, veterinary, or research staff. 

Animal Husbandry 

• Procedures including but not limited to: routine feeding and cleaning of animal enclosures; transferring animals from soiled to clean cages.
• Assist in the maintenance of rodent breeding colonies, consisting of identification of newly born animals, assessment of health status, and weaning procedures.
• Perform routine sanitization tasks related to animal primary housing, shelters, equipment and facilities; sweep, mop, scrub, wash, and disinfect floors, walls, ceilings, sinks, and other equipment; 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; use computer keyboards to access and/or input information from computerized animal record files; complete inventory and supply request forms.
• Assist with facility maintenance, including but not limited to replacing drinking water valves, simple surface preparation, replace lighting tubes or bulbs, etc.; recognize and report problems with facilities, such as inappropriate room temperatures, leaking or broken water pipes, plugged drains, damaged surfaces, etc. Unload and store animal feed (feed bags weigh 25-50 lbs each).
• Assist with group-housed animal capture ("roundup") and processing.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED.