Lab Animal Care Technician

The Vivarium provides The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota research community with animal care, procurement services, veterinary knowledge, and maintenance of housing facilities for animal-related research activities. Under direction and supervision, the Lab Animal Care Technician is responsible for maintaining laboratory animals, assisting with surgical or other experimental procedures, and maintaining high standards of laboratory animal care and welfare. Duties include animal husbandry, maintaining, cleaning and sanitizing animal care equipment, providing experimental assistance and post-operative care. This is a temporary position and will be in place for six months.

Focus of Job Responsibilities

The following examples do not include all possible responsibilities in this work and do not limit the assignment of related responsibilities in any position of this classification.

Animal Husbandry - 55%

- Provide daily husbandry including feeding, caring for, and observing the physical condition of lab animals for signs of disease or illness.
- Receive animals (e.g., general health observation, sexing, and identification).
- Provide clean food, water, and bedding.
- Observe, record, and report atypical findings of the environment and animal's health. Immediately reports such matters to the Veterinary Technician and/or Vivarium Manager.
- Provide daily reports of the general condition of the facility with respect to safety, sanitation, equipment operation, and maintenance, as well as environmental monitoring of the assigned areas.
- Maintain the highest standards of animal care and welfare in accordance with the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International (AAALAC).
- Ensure that animal populations are treated humanely.

Animal Care Equipment - 25%

- Operate, clean, sanitize, and maintain equipment and space to comply with all applicable safety regulations.
- Operate cage and bottle washers, autoclaves, and bedding dispensing and disposal equipment.
- Clean, wash, and disinfect animal rooms and cages.
- Complete daily, weekly, and month tasks.
- Maintain environment data logs.

Experimental Assistance - 10%

- Obtain medications or supplies.
- Prepare for procedures.
- Provide routine treatments.
- Administer injections, blood draws, oral gavage, etc.

Recordkeeping and Inventory Control - 5%

- Maintain equipment and supplies for animal rooms and cage wash areas.
- Keep records on feeding, weight, breeding, disposition, and shipping of animals.
- Maintain animal room records (e.g., census, sanitation, environmental monitoring, enrichment, and cage card animal identification).

Other duties as assigned. - 5%

Work Profile

The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) and The Hormel Institute endorses a "work with flexibility" approach that offers a welcoming and flexible work environment where everyone is inspired to do their best. Work location options include working fully remote, partially remote, or entirely in the office and are based on the work of the position. Some on-site work may be necessary for certain positions, even those designated as fully remote. Because we are a land-grant institution that serves the state, the University will continue to- in most cases- expect employees to live in Minnesota.

This position has been designated as eligible for Flexible Work Profile One.
Flexible Work Profile One is expected to work primarily on-site. Your office will be located at The Hormel Institute in Austin, MN. The Hormel Institute management retains the right to modify flexible work arrangement agreements on a temporary or permanent basis for any reason at any time.

Required Qualifications

- High School Diploma or GED.
- Must be able to understand and follow written and oral instructions in English.

Preferred Qualifications

- One year experience with laboratory animals, or one year experience caring for, cleaning, feeding, monitoring, and medicating animals. A combination of related education and experience with laboratory animals to equal one year may be substituted.
- Ability to work in a laboratory team environment with a diverse group of personnel.
- Effectively interact with veterinary technician, veterinary, facility manager, and investigative staff.
- Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
- Experience with rodents and zebrafish.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

- Must be able to lift, push and pull up to 50 pounds with or without accommodation.
- Proof of current Tetanus vaccine must be provided before start of employment.
- Due to the high level of noise, a hearing test is performed annually when assigned in a hearing conservation area.
- The employee may work in wet rooms or around large industrial cage washers and steam autoclaves.
- The employee may be required to wear a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) or N95 mask.
- There may be exposure to animal allergens, pathogens, and chemicals, and may include handling of, and/or exposure to animal tissue and zoonotic organisms.

The Hormel Institute is an independent biomedical research institution within the University of Minnesota's Research and Innovation Office. Established in 1942, our mission is to conduct research and provide education in the biological sciences with applications in medicine and agriculture, specifically by understanding, treating, and controlling cancer and other chronic diseases. The Hormel Institute serves as a center of technical and educational expertise for the benefit of the local community, the State of Minnesota, and beyond. We are located in the uniquely diverse rural community of Austin, MN, conveniently only 35 miles from Rochester, MN, and 100 miles (1.5 hours) south of Minneapolis/St. Paul. The Hormel Institute is committed to fostering a work environment that promotes inclusive excellence, supportive employee practices, and encourages diversity of thought that drives innovation and creativity in our science.

Pay Range: $23.14-$28.08; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).