Lab Rats Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Liphatech currently has an exciting opportunity for an R&D Biologist. We offer a safe, collaborative, and continuously improving work environment.

Competitive benefits include:

• Health Insurance with Free Vision
• Accrued Paid Time Off
• 401k with Company Match
• Profit Sharing
• Employee Wellness & Assistance Programs
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance

Summary:

Conduct and organize EPA product performance testing to support the commercialization of both existing and new product formulations, ensuring compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards. Oversee the daily care and feeding of laboratory rodents (rats and mice). Assist in evaluating novel ingredients, pilot formulations, and innovative pest control strategies under the direction of the R&D Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Comply with all Liphatech safety policies and procedures.

Comply with all Animal Laboratory Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Ensure that GLP studies comply with the scope of Good Laboratory Practice Standards.

Evaluate new and alternative raw materials to improve existing products and/or to develop new products.

Investigate and test new product formulations, packaging, and novel pest control devices.

Create formula mixing sheets, produce pilot-scale batches, and conduct non-GLP palatability and efficacy studies.

Organize and conduct standard EPA product performance testing. Ensure that relevant study phases are conducted and records are maintained in accordance with the protocol, SOPs, and GLP requirements. Inform the R&D Manager immediately of any SOP or protocol deviations.

Assist in drafting new study protocols, compiling and analyzing results, and preparing final reports for both corporate records and regulatory bodies.

Communicate in a timely fashion, all information regarding formulations, project status, raw material research, results, etc., to the R&D manager and other departments as directed.

Ensure all logs for test substance, samples, equipment calibration and maintenance, room records, and other study documents are current and accurate.

Ensure all samples are adequately identified, stored, and dispatched in a timely manner in accordance with GLPs.

Prepare samples of pilot mixes and finished goods for external submissions to third-party laboratories, as requested.

Lead the scale-up from pilot laboratory batches to production-sized batches.

Oversee and execute the feeding, watering, and monitoring of laboratory rodents.

Oversee and execute the cleaning of all equipment used in the care of rodents.

Maintain a clean and organized Animal Laboratory.

Maintain current inventory of all lab chemicals and related Safety Data Sheets (SDSs).

Maintain non-GLP project database and file cabinet, including both lab and field support studies.

Marginal Duties:

Other duties as assigned.

Qualification Requirements:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Supervisory Requirements:

None.

Education and/or Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in science with an emphasis in biology or a related field.

Six (6) months of experience in a laboratory or experimental research environment is required. 

Prior experience with rodents (rats and/or mice) and rodent husbandry is required.  

Prior experience or familiarity with oral gavage dosing and administration in rodent models is preferred.

Protective Clothing/Equipment Requirements:

Requires the use of safety glasses and safety shoes.

Wear laboratory scrubs or a laboratory coat when working in the animal lab.

Full-face respirator, or Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) system, disposable coveralls, and nitrile gloves are required as indicated in work instructions, SOP’s, or as indicated by manager or supervisor.

Safety Training:

Must successfully complete training in:

• Advanced Hazard Communication
• Basic Hazard Communication
• Emergency Action Plan
• Hearing Conservation
• Intermediate Hazard Communication
• Lab Animal Allergens
• Lockout/ Tagout
• Respirator Protection

Language Skills:

Ability to read and comprehend work instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to effectively communicate information to the supervisor and other employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Ability to use descriptive and basic inferential statistics (ex. mean, median, mode, min, max, standard deviation, T-tests).

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to apply common sense, understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Proficient with computers and knowledgeable of spreadsheet and word processing software.

Ability to handle laboratory-bred rats and mice.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to communicate with individuals and groups. The employee is frequently required to perform simple grasping and fine manipulation, as well as occasional power grasping. The employee frequently is required to manipulate and operate small hand tools, cleaning tools such as mops and scrub brushes, and power industrial tools such as laboratory-size mixers, pellet mills, and extruders.

The employee must be able to remain stationary for up to 50% of the time. The employee is occasionally required to move weights up to fifty (50) pounds. The employee is required to move a wheeled cart weighing one hundred (100) pounds repeatedly. 

The employee is required to handle rodents for marking and moving, weighing, and euthanizing. The employee is required to clean, fill, and place animal-care devices, such as watering bottles and feed cups, into animal cages.

The employee is required to work in an environment that involves exposure to rodents (rats and mice) that may be bleeding, ataxic, moribund, or deceased.

The employee is required to open, close, pour, and scoop chemicals out of commercial containers ranging in size from 1 gram to 5 gallons.

Ability to ascend and descend stairs repeatedly.

Ability to work a flexible schedule as needed, including weekends.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee is required to work in a laboratory environment and is regularly exposed to rodents. May experience odors and loud noises at times. The employee is frequently exposed to airborne particles and fumes.