The Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) group at Princeton University is a centralized administrative department reporting to the Dean for Research and is responsible for animal and veterinary care of all research animals at Princeton University. The Rodent Breeding Technician provides state-of-the art animal care and breeding management for laboratory animals housed within the rodent breeding core facility. LAR Animal Care Technicians are considered essential services staff.
The Rodent Breeding Technician will perform a variety of breeding-related services and technical duties through breeding colony management. The Rodent Breeding Technician will also provide husbandry and associated animal care services to all rodents in the breeding core facility. The Rodent Breeding Technician will ensure the cleanliness of the facility and the maintenance of adequate supplies of food and bedding materials, including PPE.
The Rodent Breeding Technician ensures the highest quality of laboratory animal care and research support, and has good communication skills with co-workers, the LAR management team, Principal Investigators, research staff, students, facility maintenance and other support services. This position reports directly to the Associate Director of Veterinary Services in LAR.
Breeding Services:
• Manages breeding colonies with the general goal to provide healthy, genetically well-defined mice that are suitable for research in an efficient and cost-effective manner and serves as liaison and expert in the field for rodent colony management.
• Performs setting up and maintenance of breeding pairs, counting and sexing of offspring, routine collection of DNA samples, identification, weaning, and euthanasia of surplus rodents.
• Communicates with the Breeding Core Supervisor regarding censuses, timelines, forecasting, status updates, line-specific concerns, and maintenance of lines.
• Maintains timely documentation associated with the breeding of genetically modified rodents.
• Monitors the health and well-being of laboratory animals used in breeding and communicates all necessary health related information to Veterinary Services staff.
• Provides treatments to laboratory animals as prescribed by Veterinary Services staff.
• Participates in continuing professional development activities and employee training programs to keep current with new developments in the field of rodent breeding colony management.
Animal Husbandry:
• Provides animal husbandry for breeding rodents housed according to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) including giving food and water to the animals, changing cages, sanitizing all supplies (cages, water bottles, food bins and other animal care related equipment), maintaining clean animal rooms, procedure rooms, hallways and other support areas, keeping records related to animal care.
• Completes work in a timely fashion and according to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and follows other written and verbal instructions as needed.
• Operates ventilated caging, water system, bedding dispensing units, full size to table top autoclaves and other equipment while following safety procedures.
• Monitors, documents, and reports deviations from normal species-specific environmental parameters such room temperature, humidity, lights, and air quality.
• Discovers and reports any facilities maintenance issues to the Facility Manager.
• Provides innovative and species-specific environmental enrichment for laboratory animals under the direction of Veterinary Services and according to research needs.
Other duties as assigned:
Cross trains and provides absentee support for other animal care technicians in other facilities. Rotates with other animal care technicians for week night, weekend and holiday coverage as needed. Enters data accurately and timely into the electronic management systems, order and service request forms, veterinary logs, vivarium calendar, and time reporting system. Perform Special Service Requests, as directed by management, provide technical skills training to the research community in support of IACUC-approved research protocols (e.g., animal handling and restraint, weaning, tail biopsies, etc.), Exhibit a willingness to assume additional responsibilities and increase knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Essential services staff performs jobs that are necessary and required to maintain basic University operations. Work attendance during scheduled or unscheduled work closures due to emergencies, events or other situations. Must have the ability to work weekends and holidays when scheduled by the supervisor.
ESSENTIAL Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Willing and able to work safely with biological and chemical hazards and able to lift a minimum of fifty (50) lbs., stand or walk continuously up to 6 hours per day, sit for up to 2 hours per day.
• Basic knowledge of biology and behavior of laboratory animal species.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a laboratory animal resources team and ability to share husbandry knowledge with other animal care staff, students and new researchers.
• Proven ability to work independently and communicate well with different levels within the organization, and work well with a diverse team for a common goal consistent with the mission of the Laboratory Animal Resources department.
• Proficient knowledge of federal, state and local Animal Welfare legislation and sound judgment how to balance optimal animal care, research goals, and regulatory compliance.
The following tasks and skills that would be necessary for any person to fulfill while working as an Rodent Animal Caretaker in Laboratory Animal Resources:
stand or walk continuously up to 6 hours per day;
sit for up to 2 hours per day;
lift or carry up to 20 pounds frequently (34-66% of the day) and up to 50 pounds occasionally (less than 33% day);
push or pull using forces up to 50 pounds frequently (34 – 66% of the work day);
use hands for simple grasping, pushing or pulling, and fine manipulations constantly (more than 66% of the day);
kneel, bend, squat, reach overhead, lift overhead, or push or pull frequently (34 – 66 % of the work day);
knee stand, crawl, or climb step stools or 6-foot stepladders occasionally (less than 33% of the workday);
lift up to 50 pounds in a range of motions from floor to waist height;
lift up to 20 pounds in a range of motions from floor to overhead;
work in a controlled laboratory environment under a variety of temperature and humidity conditions;
possess ability to maintain balance, a full range of body motions, and physical agility.
PREFERRED Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Experience, and Other Education
• Ability to handle assignments and changing priorities as circumstances may dictate.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate well person to person as well as by email.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Applications including Outlook and other software applications used in animal research and compliance such as an electronic animal management system.
• Must achieve ALAT certification within the first year of employment and keep current through ongoing professional development in animal husbandry, equipment, caging, and related topics in laboratory animal science through active participation in local and national professional associations.
• Ability to follow-up tasks from beginning to completion and carry out duties in accordance to supervisor deadlines and university policies.
• Preserve confidential information and not disclose contents of this information except in the performance of the work assignment and in accordance with University and departmental policies and procedures.
• The final candidate will be required to successfully pass a background check.
Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS