Animal Care Assistant

Job description / Role

This entry level position works under the general supervision of the Vivarium Core Manager in the animal facility maintained at WCMC-Q.

The Animal Care Technician provides husbandry to laboratory animals, including mice and frogs. The incumbent is required to assume increasing competence and responsibility in animal husbandry through on-the-job and online training, and work experience in order to understand the basics of animal health and disease; and to clean/sterilize associated cage equipment required for laboratory animal housing and care.

POSITION ACTIVITIES:
- Husbandry Provides husbandry to and handle mice and frogs in conventional and specialized animal holding rooms/suites. Husbandry includes changing cages and feeding and watering animals utilizing specialized techniques, according to an established cage change schedule. Records all information as required on daily logs for job duties.
- Equipment Operation Understands the operating principles and maintenance of specialized animal caging systems and equipment for mice and frogs and assembles sterile mouse caging including filling water bottles. Disassembles, washes, and reassembles ventilated Innovive mouse rack units and learns to assess condition of caging/equipment and make recommendations for equipment replacement and/or repair.
- Facility Operation Develops familiarity with procedures required to implement animal health checks, environmental monitoring, inadequate cage card, and dead animals as described in standard operating procedures. Develops an understanding of staff and equipment flow patterns in the animal facility used to prevent cross-contamination. Participates in on-the-job and online training required to complete job duties. Reports all facility and operational problems to Management, as directed.
- Animal Health Recognizes and reports promptly conditions of animal health and welfare that are at variance from normal for the species.
- Cage Animal Census Takes weekly cage/animal census utilizing scanners. Performs cage management utilizing a mobile device and the EnCCoMPass application.
- Inventory Management Receives, transports, stores, sterilizes, and labels animal feed, bedding and enrichment. Submits monthly inventory to Manager and keeps track of all expiration dates.
- Investigator Assistance Assists investigators in restraining animals and provides other animal husbandry assistance as requested.
- Room Sanitation Washes and waxes flooring, walls, ceiling, and lighting fixtures in the animal holding rooms and associated corridors.
- Euthanasia Develops skills to safely and effectively euthanize mice and frogs.
- Other Performs other job related duties as requested.

Requirements

- High school or GED
- Ability to follow oral and written instructions in English
- Ability to communicate instructions and observations effectively verbally and in writing in English
- Basic computer knowledge

HIGHLY DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience working with animals

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
- Ability to lift and carry 25 pounds
- Ability to climb and work from ladders and platforms
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, and carrying heavy equipment and supplies.
- Visual concentration; manual dexterity; eye-hand coordination;
- Standing for extended periods
- Employee may be exposed to dust, dirt, unpleasant odors, laboratory animals, animal excreta, and hot and humid surroundings.
- Potential exposure to animal bites and scratches, needles and other sharp instruments, infectious agents, and toxic chemicals.
- Protective equipment including scrub uniform, steel toed shoes, gowns, masks, respirators, gloves, and head covers are provided by WCMC-Q and required for specific activities

About the Company

Founded in 1898 and affiliated with what is now New York - Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH) since 1927, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) is one of the top-ranked clinical and medical research centers in the U.S. It is committed to excellence in research, teaching and patient care, and the advancement of the art and science of medicine.

In addition to the degree in medicine, Weill Cornell offers PhD programs in biomedical research and education at the Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences; a joint MD-MBA program with Cornell's Johnson School of Management; and a joint MD-PhD program with Rockefeller University and Sloan-Kettering Institute.