Lead Animal Technologist

Overview

The Lead Animal Technologist reports directly to the Animal Resources Facility (ARF) Technical Services Manager or Technologist Supervisor. The Lead Animal Technologist provides animal clinical care and treatment to research animals as prescribed by the ARF Technical Services (TS) Manager or Technologist Supervisor and as directed by the Attending Veterinarian. Under the direction of the TS Manager/Supervisor may be responsible for packing and shipping sentinel animals to Charles River Laboratories for diagnostic testing. Must be able to sex and wean mice, and identify animals by ear punch, ear tag number or toe clip. Will perform injections (IV, IP, SC, IM, ID), blood sampling techniques as assigned by (TS) Manager or (PT) to TS projects.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

• Routine handling, restraint, identification (including ear notching, tagging, tattooing, and toe clipping) and sexing of common laboratory animals.
• Distinguishing various common laboratory animal strains in accordance with standardized genetic nomenclature and phenotype identification.
• Maintains and reports accurate records, including but not limited to breeding records, health monitoring reports, receipt of sentinel animals and animal disposition logs. 
• Monitors animal colonies for injured, sick, moribund, or dead animals and recording/reporting any findings.
• Maintains animal health records for on-going treatments in the HMR/IACUC database.
• Monitors “Emergency Separation Notices,” separating overcrowded cages as necessary, transcribing correct animal information onto cage cards/ECCs after separations, and entering information accurately into Technical Services database.
• Participates with the other Technologists in collection of sentinel animals.  This includes accurate sentinel animal identification (room/rack #) for scheduled shipment to Charles River Laboratories for pathogen testing.  Blood collection and serum preparation for sentinel animals in ABSL-2/3 suite.
• Maintains and reports accurate records, including but not limited to; technical service records, electronic cage cards, animal census, sterilization logs, breeding records, transgenic data, anesthesia machine logs, animal receiving and disposition logs, etc.
• Performs sample collection for quarterly environmental testing of the animal facility, including equipment, surfaces, and RO water.
• Assists as directed by the TS Manager/Supervisor with Intramural Transfers and Animal Exports/Imports.
• Assists with animal quarantine imports; sexing, sample collect, treating and creating Charles River testing accessions. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Knowledge in animal studies including IP, IV, SQ injections, oral gavage, blood collection, and minor surgical procedures preferred
• Willingness to learn Bioluminescence Imaging (BLI) techniques.
• Ability to safely handle, restrain, perform treatments, and euthanize laboratory mice as directed. An understanding of mouse breeding colony maintenance required for establishing breeding colony pairs, sexing animals, weaning pups, and entering colony data on Electronic Cage Cards (ECC) and in computer database.
• Organized and meticulous in record keeping.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with members of a multidisciplinary team.
• Previous experience working with infectious agents (ABSL-2/3 level) would be helpful but not required.  In-house training will be provided prior to working in ABSL-2/3 areas.
• Requires a working knowledge of basic computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, and other related software.

MINIMUM JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Experience:

High School Diploma or GED required. BA/BS preferred.

Minimum Education:

3 years working in an AAALAC-accredited laboratory animal facility.  1 year of work experience in small animal studies in academia or industry preferred. 

License/Certification/Registration:

AALAS certification at the Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) preferred.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: No

PATIENT CONTACT: None   

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.  

Pay Transparency Statement

The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).