Animal Lab Assistant Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Department Overview

The Oregon National Primate Center (ONPRC) is located 12 miles west of the OHSU main campus, and sits on 162 acres of land featuring forested areas, research and administration buildings, indoor and outdoor animal housing, and 2-mile perimeter walking path. Our mission is to improve human health and the quality of life through the support of nonhuman primate research programs that advance our knowledge of the causes, preventions, treatments, and cures of debilitating diseases.

Function/Duties of Position

The purpose of the Laboratory Animal Technician 1 is to provide husbandry, health care and research support for laboratory animals maintained at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. The area of work assignment and specific tasks will vary but will be focused on equipment sanitation, depending on animal population and care requirements, service requirements, and staffing needs.  The LAT 1 is required to perform animal care and research support at the level that the individual is trained. The primary scope of work is specific to the Small Laboratory Animal Unit, but a successful LAT 1 may also be called upon to provide support to non-human primate units.

This is the first level of a three-level series.  It is distinguished from the higher levels by providing animal care and procedures under close supervision, intensified training and a lower level of independent decision-making skills.

Animal Husbandry

• Conduct routine animal husbandry procedures, including routine feeding and watering of animals; transferring animals into sanitized cages; capture, restrain, handle, identify, and transport of animals in support of veterinary or investigative procedures; determine gender of all common varieties of laboratory animals.

• Perform routine sanitization tasks related to animal primary housing, equipment and facilities; sweep, mop, scrub, wash, and disinfect floors, walls, ceilings, sinks, and other equipment; operate equipment, including but not limited to cage washers, floor scrubbers, autoclaves, pressure washers, and scales. 

• Perform animal health management procedures, including animal treatment and diagnostic procedures such as weighing, fecal and parasitology collection and blood collections. 

• Assist with facility maintenance; unload and store animal feed (feed bags weigh up to

  50lb each). 

• Assist in maintenance of laboratory animal breeding colonies, consisting of identification of newly born animals, assessment of health status and weaning procedures.

• Administration of medications via topical, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and oral routes

Observation and Records  

• Checks animals daily for signs of abnormal behavior, illness, or injury; reports observed findings to supervisor (e.g., dull coat, dull eyes, listlessness, weight loss); records and reports data on animal births, and room environmental conditions (e.g., room temperatures, lighting); signs area work sheet for work performed; fills out death record on dead animal and bags and removes animal as instructed.
• Maintains records as required by animal care unit standard operating procedure and federal regulation or guidelines.
• Keeps accurate census records for billing purposes.
• Recognize and report problems with facilities (i.e., inappropriate room temperatures, leaking or broken water pipes, plugged drains, damaged surfaces, etc.); perform simple tasks, including but not limited to replacing drinking water valves, simple surface preparation and painting, replacement of light tubes or bulbs, etc.

Miscellaneous. 

• Prepares for arrival of new animals, uncrates and houses animals according to standard operating procedures.
• Assists in the receiving and transport of animals upon arrival and as needed between campus facilities.
• Maintains and rotates clean supply of feed and bedding in animal room containers and labels appropriately.
• Operates vehicles to various animal facilities sites around campus to care for animals.
• Other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of the care of animals can be demonstrated through care of household pets, farm animals or 4-H animals.
• Ability to read, write, and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and/or written formats with both technical and professional staff.
• Ability to assist with research support at the level that the individual is trained.
• Research support must be performed in a professional manner and will require contact with investigative staff.
• Ability to perform general animal husbandry duties as assist investigative staff with needs as requested. 

• A valid Driver's License and the ability to drive ARRS/ONPRC vehicles on and off campus. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Advancement requires High School Diploma or GED.

• 6 months direct work-related experience with animals, OR

• Certification at the Assistant laboratory animal Technician level (ALAT) OR 2 years of indirect laboratory animal experience.

• 6 months of experience in the care of experimental animals (e.g., watering, feeding, changing bedding, housing, checking animal's health, etc.).

Additional Details

Regular work schedule will include weekends and holidays.

Working Conditions

• Daily work may involve moving on wet and/or slick surfaces, through narrow corridors between racks of cages; perform work in covered areas that are not environmentally controlled and those with higher than average temperatures.

• Work in areas where there is risk of exposure to zoonotic agents through injury, by direct contact with animals or their tissues and body fluids, or by contact with equipment contaminated by animals or their tissues and body fluids.

• Work where there is risk of exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals and sanitizing chemicals.

Physical Demands & Equipment

• Possess sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform basic animal husbandry and animal handling (using proper techniques).
• Able to lift and carry objects weighing up to 23 kg (50 lbs.), and lift objects weighing approximately 19 kg (42 lbs.) to approximately shoulder height.
• Able to push and pull heavy wheeled equipment such as cage racks and loaded carts.
• Able to move unassisted through various animal housing areas located in several separate buildings, indoor and outdoor.
• Possess sufficient dexterity and manual skills to safely perform (or learn to perform) basic animal husbandry and animal handling (using proper techniques), and health care procedures, including but not limited to feeding and sanitization procedures, animal capture and restraint, administration of medications, and collection of body fluids and tissues.

Benefits

• Healthcare for full-time employees covered 100% and 88% for dependents.
• $50K of term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee.
• Two separate above market pension plans to choose from.
• Vacation - up to 200 hours per year dependent on length of service.
• Sick Leave - up to 96 hours per year.
• 9 paid holidays per year.
• Substantial Tri-Met and C-Tran discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Childcare service discounts.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee discounts to local and national businesses.

Why apply to OHSU?We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.eduEmployment Type: OTHER