Sr Animal Resources Technol

Celebrating six decades of Making Cancer History, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is located in Houston on the sprawling campus of the Texas Medical Center. It is one of the world's most respected centers devoted exclusively to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.

M. D. Anderson was created by the Texas Legislature in 1941 as a component of The University of Texas System, and the faculty numbers 947 - both M.D.s and Ph.D.s. M. D. Anderson is one of the nation's original three Comprehensive Cancer Centers designated by the National Cancer Act of 1971 and is one of 39 such centers today.

M. D. Anderson ranks among the nation's top two cancer hospitals in U.S. News & World Reports 'America's Best Hospitals' survey since its inception 13 years ago.

POSITION: Senior Animal Technologist (Small Animal Section)

DEPARTMENT: Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Animal Resource Supervisor

BASIC FUNCTION
To provide care and assist in treatment of animals, to train research personnel on correct procedures in the handling and care of small animals and to assist in the QA monitoring program for the small animal facilities. The Senior Animal Technologist is responsible for care and handling of small animals and their environment in accordance with institutional, USDA, AAALAC, and NIH accreditation standard operating procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

The Senior Animal Technologist is responsible for the following activities:

1. Assists DVMS and research staff with technical and surgical procedures. Breeding projects, ear tagging, tail snipping, harvesting of tissues and organs, collection of blood (tail, cardiac, etc), restraint and handling of rodents, gavaging, generating and entering data, injections (IM, IV, Sq, etc.) and administration and monitoring of inhalation anesthesia.

2. Assists Technologist Supervisor with training and scheduling of Technologist duties and responsibilities.

3. Back up support for Technologists which entails treatments to small animals as directed by veterinary staff, maintaining treatment records, health monitoring of specialized housing areas, separations of weanlings, and cleaning and maintaining surgical equipment and supplies.

4. Assists with scheduling and coordinating quarterly sentinel monitoring of : small animal facility, barrier facility, transgenic mouse facility, CSPF barrier facility, and other facilities, as requested. Forwards data to the Small Animal Supervisor.

5. Assists with scheduling and coordinating monthly blood collection of sentinels for routine MHV testing. Forwards data to the Small Animal Supervisor.

6. Transportation of animals to designated areas.

7. Provides husbandry support as required by the program.



SECONDARY DUTIES:

8. Provide backup for barrier, conventional, and biohazard staff as required.

9. Cleaning and maintaining procedure rooms and euthanasia chambers.

10. Proves housekeeping assignments in ancillary areas (laboratories).


WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Must wear protective clothing daily to include scrubs, mask, cap, latex gloves, boots and respirator.

2. Must work with biohazardous radioactive and other hazardous chemicals, as well as water, detergents, disinfectants and similar cleaning solution/agents.

3. Must be able to adapt to environment conditions of strong odors, temperature fluctuations, high humidity, and minute particulates.

4. Must be capable of standing for prolonged periods of time throughout the day.

5. Must have stable balance for working in potentially wet/slippery areas.

6. Must have proper respect for humane procedures required by department and federal guidelines.

7. Must work weekend and holidays duties as assigned on rotation basis.

8. May encounter animal bites or scratches, which must be reported to supervisor immediately. May have exposure to zoonotic diseases.

EDUCATION: Required: Bachelor's degree in biological science.
Preferred: Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Science, Animal Science, or Veterinary Technical Certification plus equivalent experience.

Experience in animal breeding and manipulations.

EXPERIENCE: Required: Three years experience in clinical or surgical animal procedures or supervisory/team lead experience to include experience in animal healthcare and husbandry. May substitute required education degree with additional years of equivalent experience on a one to one basis
Preferred: Experience gained in a university animal research setting.

LICENSURE/CERTIFICATION: Required: Bastrop and Smithville require American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Laboratory Animal Technologist certification within 180 days of eligibility.

Houston requires American Association of Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Laboratory Animal Technician certification within 180 days of eligibility.

WORK CONDITIONS:
Direct contact with a variety of animals with the possibility of bites and scratches. Possible handling of/protected exposure to animals or associated materials that have been exposed to biohazardous agents such a carcinogens, radioactive substances, or infectious organisms.

Refer to the Position Description for specific ADA requirements and patient age-related information