Research Professional Lab Animal Caregiver

About the Job

At PCRC, the needs of the animals are first and foremost. Each animal receives the best care possible for his or her physical, psychological and social well‑being. The animals are treated with respect, compassion and empathy. The PCRC is seeking a self‑starting employee, who is a team player committed to performing high‑quality animal clinical care and research in a fast‑paced research laboratory setting.

This position will be a part of a team that is committed to caring for the animals that make it possible to advance groundbreaking research in transplantation, COVID‑19, diabetes, obesity, and regenerative medicine to the clinic, while simultaneously conducting the fully‑funded (NIH, JDRF and industry) research of PCRC. Specifically, PCRC’s research is focused on studying the effects of improving the welfare of animals used in biomedical models, thus enhancing the translational value of animal models used in biomedical research.

As such, the employee must have an interest in cooperative handling, enrichment, and animal husbandry (behavioral management) with rodents, pigs, and nonhuman primates. The translational and high regulatory research completed at PCRC requires attention to detail and the ability to follow precise written protocols that adhere to GLP regulations.

The employee will learn how to provide and be responsible for daily behavioral management, care, enrichment, and nurturing to animals by preparing food, cleaning enclosures, and maintaining the Center facility. They will receive training in becoming proficient in transfer, handling, specialized individual care, and will begin to acquire skills in colony management. Additionally, the employee will perform research and related tasks in animal husbandry in evaluating the influence on animal welfare and scientific outcomes.

The Center has a unique focus on primates, so while employees will be working with a variety of animals, they should have a strong interest in working with monkeys as this is an entry‑level position in primate care, behavioral management and research. The employee will participate in center support by training new volunteers, keeping detailed records and reporting on the status of the animals, making updates and revisions to SOPs, and handling specimens or equipment while wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

When not occupied with routine tasks, the employee is expected to participate in other lab tasks as assigned to advance the team’s work.

• Perform NIH, JDRF and industry‑funded research focused on the role of husbandry as it relates to animal welfare, scientific outcomes, and support of the Program Director’s scientific welfare philosophy
• Under the direction of senior staff, perform daily observation/assessment of animals (fecal scoring, health indicators such as appetite, social compatibility with other animal subjects, weight fluctuations, Lixit training for hydration assessment, activity level, overall health status) to generate data points used in metabolic research to minimize disruptions during treatment sessions
• Record data, make assessments, and perform basic data analysis to inform future actions/decisions pertaining to animal enrichment
• Perform instrument calibration and point‑of‑care assays
• Identify the enrichment needs of individual animals and their phase within a study to prepare and maintain specialty housing setups for metabolic or infectious disease, paying particular attention to each individual animal and their requirements
• Perform record‑keeping tasks, including recording of body weight measurements, animal observations (fecal scoring 1‑4, enrichment identification and rotation, etc.), procedures completed, temperament and sociality assessments
• Assist with animal handling for cooperation with care and research task performance
• Maintain meticulous records and collect research data in accordance with GLP guidelines
• Maintain a clean environment and ensure that areas are adequately ordered, stocked and that equipment is in working order
• Assist with development of protocol for process improvement and animal welfare projects
• Assist…