The Stowers Institute for Medical Research has an opening for a Research Technician in our Research Organisms facility to assist in maintaining and monitoring animal husbandry, health, production, technical services and the physical surroundings within various animal species and care environments.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Ensures the proper inventory, care, feeding and delivery of animals, sanitation of the equipment and facilities, procurement and storage of supplies and the maintenance of related equipment and facilities.
- Review, comprehend, and comply with all SOP’s and quality assurance standards.
- Monitor animal health and welfare while performing daily animal health observations, animal husbandry duties to maintain the quality and health of research animals, to include:
- perform daily bottle/cage/tank/system checks
- provide appropriate food and water
- perform cage changing/tank cleaning as required
- record animal health concerns per SOP and/or specified protocols.
- Provide diagnostics for aquatic life support/system operation and maintenance.
- Provide diagnostics for equipment/instrument operation and maintenance.
- Perform water quality testing, monitor and maintain water parameters per SOP and/or specified protocols.
- Ensure adequate supply levels in procedure rooms per stock list.
- Maintain accurate departmental animal housing and support area record keeping.
- Assist with restraint, handling and euthanasia of various animal species as assigned by the manager.
- Assist in support areas as assigned by the manager.
- Dispose of animal carcasses, biohazards, and chemical hazards following established procedures.
- Strictly follow all procedures necessary to maintain animal housing areas or environments, including personnel entry, spraying in all equipment and materials into controlled areas.
- Responsible for cage/animal counts for a regular and accurate census.
- May be involved in strictly maintaining and following breeding procedures to ensure appropriate production levels.
- Load and unload autoclaves, VHP and washers as needed.
- Operate equipment and use supplies according to safety guidelines; perform general housekeeping and adhere to safety procedures.
- Plan and organize daily activities and work orders with a minimum amount of supervision.
- Perform initial assessments of animal health.
- Maintain colonies according to SOP’s and investigator’s specifications.
- Perform all technical procedures with accuracy including, but not limited to, blood collection, tissue collections, injections, spawning, sex sorting, amputations, and toxicity testing.
- Perform additional technical procedures as required.
- Maintain and make available accurate records and databases for all work performed.
- Communicate effectively with management, researchers, and colleagues.
- Maintain the required attendance level and adhere to the work schedule in accordance with the required staffing levels to ensure that assigned duties are completed.
- Report any accidents, deviations from procedures, or general facility concerns to on-site supervisor.
- Always ask questions in the event of confusion, or doubt, as to proper procedure.
- Perform other duties as they are assigned.
Note: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications, physical demands, and work conditions listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is preferred.
- Preference will be given for AALAS certification, at least at the LAT level or its equivalent.
- Previous experience in caretaking of various animal models and a basic understanding of aquatic system maintenance relating to various types of aquaculture systems is preferred.
To Apply
Submit the requested documents to careers@stowers.org or to Administration Department, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 E 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110.
Requested Documents
- Current Resume
- Cover Letter
