Laboratory Animal Technician, Pipeline Research
ShapeTX is looking for a highly motivated individual with a strong passion for learning to join the Research team as Laboratory Animal Technician, Pipeline Research. This is a temporary role expected to last 9 months. In this role, the successful candidate will partner with the in vivo pharmacology team to provide support for in vivo studies.
This role will include basic laboratory and mouse colony management responsibilities and requires a high level of organization and capacity to coordinate multiple experiments. Under minimal supervision, you will provide skilled care and handling of laboratory animals in a safe and sanitary manner. Primary working areas include standard housing areas as well as specialized areas including, but not limited to, surgical and behavioral assay procedure rooms, bio-hazardous areas, and animal colonies requiring specialized procedures. The candidate will ensure that activities performed are in compliance with standards set forth by NIH and USDA as well as the IACUC and Institutional SOP.
An ideal candidate will have broad in vivo colony management and mouse health monitoring experience, a collaborative spirit and a desire to work in a fast-paced startup environment.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Lead colony management activities, including breeding, weaning, animal identification (ear-tagging or alternative ID methods), and maintaining accurate colony populations in colony management software.
- Perform genotyping assays which may entail some basic PCR protocols, running samples on a gel, and correctly interpreting results.
- Perform routine procedures and injections (IV, IM, IP, SC) in mice, monitor animal health, and assist with blood sampling and/or tissue collection
- Assist with phenotype scoring and behavioral assays.
- Assist with and/or perform specialized procedures, such as intracerebroventricular (icv) injections
- Perform pre- and post-surgical activities, including cleaning and sterilization of surgical equipment, aliquoting reagents, performing post-op health checks, etc.
- Maintain a detailed electronic laboratory notebook, controlled substances log, and sample inventory database, as needed.
- Assist in lab organization, sample inventory management, and supply ordering.
Requirements:
Required Qualifications:
- High school diploma or equivalent and two years of relevant animal care experience plus AALAS certification (ALAT, LAT or LATG) or five years relevant animal care experience.
- Ability to work directly with mice and willingness to participate in Occupational Health Program, as required for facility entry.
- Ability to work part-time on weekends or holidays, as needed.
Desirable Skills and Experience:
- Skill in handling, restraint, identification and sexing of laboratory mice.
- Experience with multiple cell/drug delivery routes (IV, IP, SC, and PO).
- Expertise working with a variety of in vivo animal models; genetic & neurological disease models a plus.
- A high degree of attention to detail and concern for animal well-being.
- Ability to troubleshoot and think analytically.
- Strong work ethic and a collaborative team player.
- Good interpersonal skills and effective communication, both verbal and written.
- Skill in performing basic calculations.
- Ability to multitask and support multiple projects simultaneously.
We aspire to Shape Life! not only through our science, but also through our commitment to foster an inclusive environment that supports diverse perspectives and experiences.