Job Description

This position supports laboratory animal research through rodent technical services, colony management, and core facility operations. Responsibilities include performing rodent procedures (e.g., injections, blood collection, surgeries, necropsies), managing breeding colonies, supporting diagnostic and necropsy services, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring compliance with animal use protocols. The role also provides training to research and DLAR staff, assists with animal import/export and sentinel testing, and supports other core and veterinary services as needed during staffing shortages. This position requires attention to detail, regulatory compliance, and flexibility, including occasional weekend and holiday work.

Entity

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC - Univ)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Classified

Cost Center

CC001152 DLAR Division Of Laboratory Animal Resources

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Grade

University-GEN08

Pay Range

45,300.00 - 61,100.00 - 77,000.000

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

1.1 Rodent Technical Services 35%

• Rodent projects: performs injections, blood collections, gavaging, physiological tracking, special diet/water provision, necropsies, and surgeries (survival and non-survival); will include some weekend and holiday work; verifies compliance with researcher’s animal use protocol.

• CDLD Animal Models Core: performs hands-on procedures with rodents (surgeries, tissue/blood collection, injections, physiological recordings), provides colony management (breeding, weaning, genotyping, database management)
• Training animal protocol: maintains inventory of training animals, arranges donations and transfers of animals to and from training protocol and between facilities, tracks usage, and maintains compliance.

1.2 Core Services 25%

• Necropsy: Assists in necropsy for USDA species necropsies, performs rodent necropsies, maintains necropsy facilities, and preparation for histology

• Representation: presents information about the Core at conferences and on-campus events
• Record-keeping: accurately maintains records of all procedures performed for research projects

1.3 Colony Management 20%

• Manage and work effectively and efficiently with collaborators and other groups who need Colony Management support.

• Establish and implement breeding schemes to optimize the number of animals required for numerous investigators on campus following approved research protocols.

• Collect tissue samples and store them, deliver them to research staff, or send them to Transnetyx for the purpose of genotyping

• Wean litters and set up breeding cages as required to meet research needs

• Train researchers across campus in colony management basic skills.

• Guide DLAR and research personnel in colony management techniques and theory.
• Collect samples and perform duties for the Cross Foster program.

1.4 Training 10%

• Research Staff: performs training with research laboratory staff on rodent handling, technical procedures, and surgeries; documents all training.
• DLAR staff: trains DLAR staff on necessary rodent procedures (handling, sexing, injections) and departmental SOPs (standard operating procedures)

1.5 Assist with Other Sections within the Core 5%

• VDL- during shortages or surges, perform duties to include:

• Equipment maintenance: performs daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance for blood analysis machines; manages records of all tests performed and data collected; organizes and retains all necessary records for the diagnostic laboratory
• Sentinel testing: assists with the division’s sentinel program; collects blood, tissue, and VDL- during shortages or surges, perform duties to include:

• Equipment maintenance: performs daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance for blood analysis machines; manages records of all tests performed and data collected; organizes and retains all necessary records for the diagnostic laboratory
• Sentinel testing: assists with the division’s sentinel program; collects blood, tissue, and swab samples for testing; communicates with facility supervisors about schedule and sampling needs; ship the samples appropriately to the testing center
• Import/export of animals: prepares and packs up animals for transport; keeps records of all imports/exports performed; applies ectoparasite treatments to the imported rodents; collects samples for quarantine testing, ships the samples
• Diagnostic testing: performs requested tests on blood samples collected by departmental staff or investigators; performs RT-PCR analysis of samples for pathogens for the cross-foster program or follow-up sentinel testing; prepares and ships samples to outside labs for analysis
• SRL- during shortages or surges, perform duties to include:
• Fill in for Veterinary Technicians (rodent treatments and assessments) as needed for staff shortages and overflow, as needed assistance with USDA species medication dosing

1.6 Other Duties as Assigned 5%

Performs other related duties as required

MUSC Minimum Training and Experience Requirements:

An associate degree or equivalent technical training in electronics technology, biology, or the natural sciences and one year work experience in a laboratory environment; or a high school diploma and two years journey-level work experience in a laboratory environment.

MUSC Physical Requirements:

(Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift)

Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Continuous)
Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous)
Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent)
Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent)
Ability to work indoors. (Continuous)
Ability to work in all cold temperature extremes, i.e. spot coolers. (Frequent)
Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent)
Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent)
Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Continuous)
Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous)
Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous)
Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous)
Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous)
Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous)
Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous)
Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous)
Ability to lift and carry 30 lbs., unassisted. (Frequent)
Ability to lift objects, up to 30 lbs., from floor level to height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Frequent)
Ability to lower objects, up to 30 lbs., from height of 72 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Frequent)
Ability to push/pull objects, up to 50 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent)
Ability to lift and carry objects up to 30 lbs. a distance of five (5) floors and to outlying buildings. (Frequent)
Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected. (Continuous)
Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Continuous)
Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous)
Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous)
Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous)
Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous)
Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous)
Must be ambidextrous.
Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous)
Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and annually.
Ability to work alone in isolated areas, such as darkrooms. (Frequent)

Additional New Requirements:
Ability to perform job duties in a research environment that will involve direct handling of, or indirect exposure to, research animals, animal housing areas, and related procedures.

Ability to obtain and maintain a valid drivers license.
Computer literacy.
Ability to work rotating shifts as required.
Ability to work overtime as required.
Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required.

Additional Job Description

Minimum Requirements: An associate degree or equivalent technical training in electronics technology, biology, or the natural sciences and one year work experience in a laboratory environment; or a high school diploma and two years journey-level work experience in a laboratory environment. Physical Requirements: (Note: The following descriptions are applicable to this section: Continuous - 6-8 hours per shift; Frequent - 2-6 hours per shift; Infrequent - 0-2 hours per shift) Ability to perform job functions in an upright position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions in a seated position. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile. (Frequent) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work in all cold temperature extremes, i.e. spot coolers. (Frequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Frequent) Ability to perform 'pinching' operations. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (Continuous) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (Continuous) Ability to fully use both legs. (Continuous) Ability to reach in all directions. (Continuous) Possess good finger dexterity. (Continuous) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (Continuous) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (Continuous) Ability to lift and carry 30 lbs., unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift objects, up to 30 lbs., from floor level to height of 72 inches, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lower objects, up to 30 lbs., from height of 72 inches to floor level, unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to push/pull objects, up to 50 lbs., unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift and carry objects up to 30 lbs. a distance of five (5) floors and to outlying buildings. (Frequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and annually. Ability to work alone in isolated areas, such as darkrooms. (Frequent) Additional New Requirements: Ability to obtain and maintain a valid drivers license. Computer literacy. Ability to work rotating shifts as required. Ability to work overtime as required. Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required. Ability to perform job duties in a research environment that will involve direct handling of, or indirect exposure to, research animals, animal housing areas, and related procedures.

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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