Research Associate III

Job Description

Job Summary:

• We are seeking a highly motivated research associate to join our Inflammation in vivo pharmacology team.
• The selected candidate will provide in vivo study support under minimal supervision for evaluating Client inflammation therapeutics in pre-clinical models and will be responsible for daily in vivo study support needs, including frequent off-shift and weekend study support needs for our inflammation studies.
• The successful candidate will be highly proficient in murine handling techniques including various dosing routes (IV, IP, PO, subcutaneous), in-life and terminal blood collection, and handling of tissues during necropsy and processing for ex vivo analysis.
• The day-to-day responsibilities will include daily dosing, animal body weights, tissue collections, and assisting with various aspects of study maintenance.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reviews and complies with all policies, guidelines and operating procedures pertaining to the animal care and research program.
• Assemble, set up, operate and maintain any necessary experimental equipment to conduct in-vivo studies.
  Conduct laboratory procedures in compliance with established protocols/plans and with regulatory and laboratory requirements.
• Document experimental data in technical notebooks or approved electronic files including procedures performed, existing conditions, observed results and variation from expected data patterns.
• Maintain technical knowledge and understanding in his/her assigned area of responsibility.

Able to perform the following techniques in rodents:

• Handling and Restraint.
• PO, IV, SQ, IP techniques are a must.
• Blood collection in rodents such as, but not limited to, retroorbital, tail vein, submandibular, cardiac.
• Body weight and food consumption measurements and assessment of mouse body condition.
• Rodent euthanasia using CO2, anesthesia and/or approved physical methods.
• Provide inhalation anesthesia induction, monitoring if needed.
• Performing clinical observations of animals to determine morbidity/mortality/ animal health check and treatment as needed.
• Perform necropsy, including tissue and fluid collections.
• Support study set-up, take downs, ex-vivo assays.
• Basic laboratory techniques, including pipette handling and formulation handling (including dose calculations).
• Interact with personnel within the department to develop a network of resources to facilitate completion of assignments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Education & Experience:

• B.S./B.A. degree in Biological Sciences or related field, or Associate’s degree in veterinary technology or equivalent college level program.
• Must have at least 2 years of previous technical experience in a laboratory animal research setting, specifically PK/ PD experience.
• Hands-on experience with preclinical mouse models is required.
• OR High School diploma/GED and four (4) years directly related work experience in laboratory animal husbandry and technical skills as detailed above required.
• 5+ years of laboratory animal facility experience, preferably in industry and demonstrated work experience with murine models of cancer, inflammation and/or immunology.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficiency with various mouse handling techniques including dosing (PO, IV, SQ, IP), body weight measurements, in life and terminal blood collection, and collection and handling of tissues during necropsy and processing for ex vivo analysis.
• Knowledge of and experience with USDA regulations, laboratory animal welfare guidelines and AAALAC, International guidelines is a plus, but not required.
• Working knowledge of laboratory animal equipment and supplies, for a variety of common laboratory animals and personal protective equipment requirements for various bio-safety levels.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, along with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment is essential.
• Computer literacy with MSWord and MS Excel is required. PowerPoint and GraphPad Prism experience is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and plan studies and execute day to day responsibilities with minimum supervision.

Work Environment:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to laboratory animals and caging of various species including mice, rats, and other rodents and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, toxic or caustic chemicals, biohazard materials/agents.