Position Title:
Animal Care & Research Technician
Work Type:
Full time
Location:
Swarthmore College Approved Location Type:
On Campus
Department:
Work Shift:
Day Shift (United States of America)
Who We Are:
The Psychology Department at Swarthmore College is a vibrant and diverse academic department with a strong emphasis on providing students with hands-on experience in collaborative cutting-edge research. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members using state-of-the-art facilities, including the EEG/ERP imaging facility and the animal facility.
The Opportunity:
The Animal Care & Research Technician (ACRT) will be responsible for working with staff, faculty, and students to maintain the day-to-day operations of vertebrate and non-vertebrate labs in the Psychology and Biology Departments. The core responsibilities of the ACRT are focused on animal husbandry, including daily health and welfare checks, providing food, water, and enrichment, and changing animal cages. In addition, the ACRT will also assist with research activities as directed by the PIs, including curricular support for laboratory-based courses (e.g., research practica). While the primary supervisor of this position is the chair of the Psychology Department, the ACRT will take direction from the Animal Facility Specialists and faculty in Psychology and Biology.
The position will require flexible time management and acquisition of new competencies as the animal facility and research projects change over time. The ACRT is expected to learn how to perform all duties listed below and to use this knowledge to help train students as needed. This is a full-time, 35 hour per week position that will be required to work some weekend days and some holidays, including winter break, as part of their regular schedule. This position may be ideal for a recent graduate in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, or a related field, or someone interested in a career in biomedical research, animal husbandry, and/or laboratory management.
Essential Responsibilities:
Animal Care
Routine animal husbandry care, including health care checks, behavior observation, handling, adding food and water, reporting injury/illness, and administering emergency health treatments when needed
Daily cage changing, operating cage washer, sanitizing animal cages, racks, and equipment
Daily cleaning of animal spaces such as sweeping, mopping, wiping down surfaces, emptying trash
Assist with keeping inventory of animals and supplies; rotating stock; and ensuring all appropriate spaces are equipped with supplies
Complete daily logs and all relevant non-research related record keeping for regulatory oversight
Share in on-call responsibilities
Comply with federally mandated animal welfare regulations and institutional animal care and use policies
Occasionally perform humane euthanasia of animals.
Report any concerns, issues, emergencies to the Animal Facility Specialist and/or appropriate personnel, including the PIs and the IACUC veterinarian.
Facility Maintenance
Work directly with Facilities for equipment and facility upkeep and repairs
Training & Research Activities
Participate in standard facility training and research-specific training (i.e., in person, virtual, CITI modules, etc)
Has and maintains medical clearance to meet Occupational Health and Safety Program Requirements (PHS Assurance)
Read lab protocols
Train and supervise students working in the lab when needed
Assist in research-related activities as directed by PIs, which may include- Weighing animals and food
Separating rodent pups from mothers
Changing food in cages or behavior apparatuses
Transferring animals to behavioral rooms and/or behavioral apparatuses
Applying experiment-related labels to cages and/or behavioral apparatuses
Operating and troubleshooting home-cage feeding devices
Assisting with set-up and breakdown of experimental equipment
Assisting with collection of behavioral measurements in behavioral…