Veterinary Technician

Overview

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 Veterinary Technician provides support to all Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) Facilities. This position reports directly to the Assistant Director of Veterinary Services.

Veterinary Technicians are considered essential services staff. Essential services staff performs jobs that are necessary and required to maintain basic University operations during scheduled or unscheduled work closures due to emergencies, events or other situations.

The position requires that the individual is willing and able to work with all species of laboratory animals, BSL-1 or BSL-2 level infectious agents, hazardous chemicals and radiation and use all appropriate safety measures in working with those agents.

Veterinary Technicians have weekend and holiday on-call duties. Must be within a 1-hour radius of the Princeton University campus when on-call to respond to animal emergencies. The position also requires that an individual is able to lift 50lb.

Clinical rounds and treatments:

• Per regularly scheduled rounds of all LAR facilities.
• Maintain records and performs the appropriate treatment for sick animals under the direction of the staff veterinarian, including treatments to be provided on weekends.
• Provides curative and experimental treatments to laboratory animals as prescribed by researchers and/or the LAR veterinarians.
• Assists in coordinating treatment schedules and participates in the delivery of timely treatments as needed, including off hours and on weekends.
• Develops, documents and, as needed, provides the environmental enrichment programs for laboratory animals.
• Administers the dispensing and documentation of controlled drugs under the direct supervision of the attending veterinarian and according to state and federal guidelines.
• Maintains a reasonable stock of drugs and supplies used in the appropriate care of laboratory animals.

Documentation, audits, and regulatory compliance:

• Monitors mandatory documentation maintained by researchers (e.g., post-operative monitoring, regular weighing for animals on water restriction) for the attending veterinarian.
• Responsible for the oversight of procedural spaces to make sure all calibrations and maintenance is performed and documented.
• Schedule regular maintenance of veterinary equipment, to ensure that equipment is functioning properly and to remain in compliance with regulations and guidelines.
• Ensures that drugs and supplies are not out of date. Assists LAR Management with performing monthly audits of LAR facilities.
• Ensures that appropriate safety protocols are followed when hazardous materials are used in connection with research animals.

Other duties as assigned:

• Cross trains and provides absentee support for other veterinary technicians in other LAR facilities.
• Rotates with other veterinary 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.
• Performs 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, etc.).
• Exhibit a willingness to assume additional responsibilities and increase knowledge, skills, and abilities.

ESSENTIAL Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills, Competencies, and Abilities

• BA/BS in Animal Science or related field and/or
• Veterinary Technology Degree from an AVMA accredited school and/or
• AALAS certification at the Laboratory Animal Technologist Level
• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience working with laboratory animals in a responsibility described above.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a laboratory animal resources team and ability to share knowledge with other animal care staff, students, and new researchers.
• Ability to work independently and communicate well…