Animal Care Specialist, Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology (I-GHHE) AtThe American University in Cairo - biology, chemistry, biotechnology, or veterinary technology Vacancy
Job description
Reports to: Laboratory Manager
Purpose: The animal care specialist is responsible for caring for animals in the clinical or research setting. The animal care specialist's duties include maintaining animal records, cleaning cages and other equipment, assisting in administering injections and medications, experimental protocols and preparing laboratory samples. In addition, they may be assigned tasks associated with analyses and surgical procedures in the Vivarium (Animal Housing) or transfer of material to analytical laboratories with I-GHHE.
Principal Accountabilities:
Ensuring assigned animal labs’ readiness for housing, procedures and daily cleanliness
Conduct and maintain daily, or as requested, records on:
Animal weight and health status
Water and food consumption
Monitored conditions of animals and facility (humidity/temperature) per PI protocols
Document fluctuations in colony due to protocols or unexpected mortality
Independently conduct and assist with:
Administration of medication as provided by veterinarian
Administration of dosing regimens per experimental protocols (gavage, intraperitoneal, intramuscular)
Euthanasia and dissection for target tissue collection
Minor surgical procedures (suturing) as instructed by Lab Manager or PI
Major surgical procedures as assistant to PI or veterinarian
Sample collection and preliminary analyses of:
Blood collection (tail vein; orbital)
Microscopy (hematology: cell count; hematocrit; hemoglobin)
Behavioral assessment in response to chemical testing:
Home cage activity
Balance-beam assessment
Temperature and pain thresholds
Aversion testing
Assist in establishing protocols and training for students and faculty conducting research across AUC stakeholders
Liaison and work with contract veterinarian to implement and maintain Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines
Carry out instructions regarding animal health and/or treatment, as provided by the contract Veterinarian, maintain records of visits and logging instructions
Supporting researchers in laboratory analyses, and procedures which may include dosing regimens, behavioral testing, surgical procedures, euthanasia and termination of studies
Maintain inventory and ordering of vivarium supplies such as bedding, feed, first aid and minor surgical supply, disinfectants, biohazard disposal systems
Perform minor biomedical analyses in hematology and immunology as assigned by manager or PIs
Maintaining the daily cleanliness and security of facility in terms access, best practices, individual environmental controls
Maintaining an updated inventory of all lab items (equipment, devices, tools, consumables) and animal per diem for charge-back to grants and user fees
Perform other related tasks as assigned
Requirements:
Minimum Education Requirement:
BSc in biology, chemistry, biotechnology, or veterinary technology or related field
Experience:
At least two years of experience or significant animal use during studies
Skills:
Workable command of English and Arabic (Spoken and written)
Ability to handle animals and minor monitoring or analytical equipment, varied instrumentation for collection, including best practices in laboratory safety and hazard control
Knowledge of computers, software, and network concepts in data collection and inventory (e.g., Excel)
Good background about contemporary animal safety and humane treatment as per the ethical guidelines
Good troubleshooting and problem anticipation
Good communication, interpersonal skills and analytical skills
Time management and planning skills
Can work under pressure and within a team
Ability to train other staff members, students and faculty
The position is open until July 25, 2021