Principal Animal Technologist

Overview

The Principal Animal Technologist reports directly to the Animal Resources Facility (ARF) Technical Services (TS) Manager and Technologist Supervisor. The Principal Animal Technologist provides high level technical support to researchers, assists the Attending Veterinarian with clinical care and treatment of research animals, and provides training to the DFCI research community, ARF husbandry and technology staff. Must be able to understand and follow ARF standard operating procedures and DFCI institutional guidelines and policies. Individual must understand and follow the local, state, federal regulations and guidelines pertaining to the use of laboratory animals.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute brings together world renowned clinicians, innovative researchers and dedicated professionals, allies in the common mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS and related diseases. Combining extremely talented people with the best technologies in a genuinely positive environment, we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all ages; we conduct research that advances treatment; we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers; we reach out to underserved members of our community; and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and performs breeding colony management, injections (IV, IP, SC, IM, ID), blood sampling techniques, necropsies, tissue collection, immunization, minor surgical procedures, tumor measurements, bone marrow transplants, and gamma irradiation on research animals. Must be able to work in Animal Biosafety Level (ABSL) 2/3 assisting researchers with technical support when requested. ABSL-2/3 work may involve working with animals infected with human pathogens such as influenza.
• Assists the ARF Manager of Technical Services and the ARF Training Manager with training DFIC researchers and ARF husbandry staff in proper handling, restraint, euthanasia, and technical procedures according to IACUC-approved standard operating procedures, policies, and guidelines. Assists in training animal husbandry staff to recognize sick and/or injured animals identified during daily health checks.
• Examines sick and/or wounded animals, recommends treatment/euthanasia and refers to TS Manager, Supervisor or Attending Veterinarian. Responsible for maintaining animal health records for on-going treatments in the HMR/IACUC database.
• Maintains the monthly sentinel monitoring program which on Charles River Labs’ ILIMS database, correctly identifies sentinel animals, orders new replacement sentinel animals, and packs and ships animals to Charles River Laboratories for rodent pathogen testing.
• Places orders for supplies through Charles River Labs’ ILIMS and schedules pickup of samples for testing.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate records and data entries, including but not limited to tracking time spent performing technical services, breeding colony management, anesthesia machine maintenance records, ordering/receiving sentinel animals, animal holding room census collection and animal disposition logs.
• Attends to “Emergency Separation” notices, ensuring timely separation of overcrowded cages. Assures that associated charges are entered into Technical Services ARF Census database.
• Assists the Technologist Supervisor in attending to moribund animals to be sure that the lab is contacted, and that euthanasia has occurred in a timely manner.
• Maintains inventory of supplies/materials/equipment, including anesthesia machines, surgical instruments, heat lamps, restrainers, scales etc., and keeping track of equipment loaned to investigators.
• Assist s Technical Services Manager as directed with Intramural Transfers and Animal Exports/Imports.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required. BA/BS in Animal Science or related life science preferred.
• 4 years working in an AAALAC-accredited laboratory animal facility.
• AALAS certification at the Laboratory Animal Technician (LATG) is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Requires basic computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, and other related software.
• Proficiency in animal studies including IP, IV, SQ injections, oral gavage, blood collection, and minor surgical procedures.
• 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.
• Must be able to search the IACUC database to review approved animal protocol procedures for Technical Service Requests from investigators.
• Completion of the DFCI Radiation and Animal Biosafety Courses will be required before working on and animal biosafety studies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are required.
• Must be able to lead a team of diverse individuals without bias, partiality, or favoritism.
• Able to write clearly understandable technical standard operating procedures, polices and guidelines to support Animal Resources Facility, DFCI researchers and the IACUC.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) has strict guidelines regarding the presence of rodents in employees' homes due to the potential impact on research integrity and patient safety. Employees who work in certain roles, particularly those involving laboratory settings or animal research, must ensure their living environment does not pose a risk of contamination or interference with DFCI’s work. As a result, employees in designated positions are required to confirm that they do not have pet rodents at home or, if they do, agree to rehome them before starting employment. Failure to comply with this requirement may affect eligibility for employment in specific roles at DFCI.

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 equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse 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.