Summary:

As a Biological Science Laboratory Technician, the incumbent will be performing biological, protein and molecular analyses of cells, tissues and/or microbes. The Laboratory Technician is expected to be able to conduct experiential procedures under the guidance of the Principal Investigator from the Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System. The incumbent will perform laboratory procedures that can include, but are not limited to cell culture work, basic molecular biology, kinase and signal transduction assays, enzyme immunoassays, protein characterization studies, and preparation of reagents.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide husbandry and care for animals according to standards and established work flows.

• Perform daily health checks and relay abnormal findings to veterinarian and/or researchers.

• Maintain established cleaning and sanitization standards.

• Execute administrative tasks including census, animal identification, and logs.

• Ensure necessary husbandry and research supplies are in stock.

• Communicate routinely with facility supervisor and veterinarian regarding facility or animal concerns.

• Administer and complete basic rodent treatments under the guidance of the veterinarian including topical treatments, trimming teeth and nails.

• Work independently to perform husbandry tasks in assigned area including cage changes, water bottle changes, replacing food, performing health checks etc.

• This position requires weekend and holiday work, which is shared among the Veterinarian Medical Unit staff.  Occasional overnight work may be required during extreme weather events.

• Completing tasks as assigned by facility supervisor and/or veterinarian

Supervision:

Alicia Braxton, Charleston VA Veterinary Medical Officer 

Qualifications and Hiring Criteria:

• Authorization to work in the US to apply for this job and are subject to a background/suitability investigation

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent

• Some background is expected in methods pertaining to cell culture methods, molecular biology, biochemistry, and approaches involving animals’ models.

• Prior animal husbandry and handling experience preferred.

• The duties require a knowledge of the basic principles of a biological science to assess readings and measurements taken, tests executed, observations made, work completed, samples collected, etc., to understand and relate the significance of the results to the higher objectives to which the activity is related, i.e., the technician must assess the worth of the data by considering its applicability to the higher objective, by assessing and reporting on the characteristics and quality of the source of the data, or by otherwise creatively interpreting the data produced.

• Trainings/Certs Preferred: AALAS Technician Certification