Animal Health Technician I, II, or Sr

Animal Health Technician

The function of the Animal Health Technician is to perform a variety of duties involved in providing technical support to the Nancy Fair Link Laminitis Research Center. This position provides instruction to graduate students and supervision to student workers.

Salary Grade: 12

Area of Specialization: Laminitis Research Center

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist with or independently execute research procedures including sample collection, biological specimen handling, clinical scoring relevant to laminitis studies, data collection, and accurate recording of research observations.
• Restrain, move, and handle horses safely and humanely for husbandry, clinical, and research procedures; instruct and supervise students and staff in correct handling, restraint, and treatment techniques.
• Monitor horse health continuously, perform routine health checks, record findings, and promptly notify the research leads and attending veterinarian and of any changes in an animal's condition.
• Provide daily animal care and husbandry for horses used in research, including feeding, watering, stall and turnout maintenance, bedding changes, waste removal, observation of behavior and general condition, and maintaining a clean, safe environment.
• Administer treatments and medications under veterinary direction, perform routine clinical procedures as delegated and document all treatments in the animal health record.
• Prepare, set up, operate, clean, and maintain specialized clinical and research equipment.
• Conduct or assist with routine laboratory tests required for research or clinical monitoring (basic hematology, glucose/insulin testing, sample processing for submission), following laboratory safety and protocol procedures.
• Coordinate multiple concurrent studies, prioritize tasks across projects, and act as liaison between investigators, veterinary staff, and institutional compliance offices.
• Train, instruct, evaluate, and provide on-the-job supervision to graduate students, veterinary students, and junior animal health technicians in animal care procedures, research techniques, recordkeeping, and safety.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and institutional policies governing the care and use of animals in research, including but not limited to AAALAC accreditation standards, USDA registration requirements, and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocols and directives.
• Operate and maintain large-scale equipment as needed (pressure washer, floor scrubber, tractor, forklift) in accordance with training and safety guidelines; ensure appropriate operator certification where required.
• Coordinate or assist with procurement and inventory of feed, bedding, medical supplies, and research consumables.

Supervisory Responsibility: This position may supervise other research staff.

The above essential duties are representative of major duties in this position. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary based upon Center needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above consistent with the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the job.

Minimum Qualifications:

Grade and salary will be commensurate with individual's background, education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Working Conditions and Physical Effort:

Instructions for Applying:

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

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