Research Animal Care Specialist

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Job Title:

Research Animal Care Specialist Department:

Veterinary Medicine | Veterinary Preventive Medicine The Research Animal Care Specialist at the PAAR Facility, located on the CFAES Wooster Campus, provides direct and indirect animal care and research support within BSL-3 and BSL-3

Ag high-containment environments. This role serves as a primary operational contact for research projects, actively participating in study setup, execution, and closeout. Daily duties involve working in immediate proximity to high-consequence animal pathogens and zoonotic agents, with a primary focus on the husbandry, handling, observation, and welfare of livestock species—specifically bovine, porcine, and avian  addition to direct animal care and study execution, the role encompasses comprehensive research support operations both inside and outside of containment.

This includes managing research waste streams and autoclave sterilization, tracking project supplies, and maintaining overall facility readiness.
50% Animal Care & Research Project Support Direct Animal Care & Husbandry:
Provide daily care, feeding, watering, and meticulous health monitoring for research animals, specializing in bovine, porcine, and avian breeds in high-containment settings. Apply keen observational skills to detect subtle changes in animal behavior, physical health, or clinical status.

Project Setup & Closeout:
Lead operational prep work for incoming research projects (setting up animal housing, specialized pens, and study-specific supplies) and execute project closeout protocols (decontaminating housing spaces, organizing study records, and resetting animal rooms).Experimental Support & Pathogen Handling:
Assist research teams and principal investigators with animal restraint, sampling, health observations, and experimental procedures while working directly with high-consequence zoonotic pathogens.

Veterinary & Protocol Coordination:
Ensure strict day-to-day adherence to approved Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols and monitor daily animal welfare. Communicate routine health observations with the Attending Veterinarian and report clinical concerns, protocol variances, or animal welfare issues to the immediate supervisor, who serves as the primary liaison to veterinary leadership and compliance committees.
25% Waste Management & Facility Operations Decontamination & Waste Disposal:
Manage research waste streams by operating autoclaves, tissue digesters, and decontamination systems to sterilize waste materials generated inside high-containment areas. Ensure the proper, safe disposal of all processed, sterilized waste.

Facility Maintenance Support:
Prepare, sanitize, and validate animal housing rooms, laboratories, and specialized equipment before and after project runs.

Equ…