The Lead Animal Technician Specialist will be responsible for the conduct of highly specialized and technically complex experiments using small animal models (rodents and rabbits) of infection with various bio-safety level 2 and 3 pathogens and provides technical oversight for the BSL-3 Labs. Studies will be carried out in Animal Biosafety Level 2 (ABSL-2) and Animal Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3) facilities and focus on infections via aerosol, intranasal, intraperitoneal, intravenous intradermal and subcutaneous routes; intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous and intravenous injections of rodents, other small animals and USDA species such as rabbits with therapeutics and/or anesthesia; surgeries on anesthetized animals as experimentally needed; necropsy to isolate the organs; evaluate tissue burdens; isolation of single cell suspension from infected tissue.

 

The Center for Discovery and Innovation- CDI was established by Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) as an academic basic and translational research enterprise to rapidly translate science innovation to the clinic and to improve outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases, autoimmune disease and other acute and chronic diseases.  The CDI has grown rapidly since its origins in 2019, and now has 39 labs, 200+ scientists and allied personnel supported by 78 NIH and DoD grants and more than 87 other grants and contracts. Areas of expertise include genomics, epigenetics, drug resistance, stem cell biology, drug discovery, diagnostics and biomarker development, rheumatology and pharmacology.

A day in the life of a Lead Animal Technician Specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

 

• Leads various research and technical operations relative to ongoing projects to bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens (Evaluation of therapeutics, development of novel diagnostics and studies in pathogenesis and virulence).
• Performs advanced surgical procedures on research animals under full anesthesia. 3. Application of emergency procedures to study animals at own judgement.
• Monitors health of critical study animals including USDA species and direct reporting to PI and attending veterinarian.
• Ensures regulatory compliance of study team to CDC guidelines, IACUC protocols and IBC protocols during day-to-day operation.
• Oversees breeding of rodents.
• Monitors usage and inventory of DEA controlled substances.
• Organizes and/or optimizes experimental workflow of study team.
• Prepares BSL-2 and BSL-3 pathogen cultures.
• Facilitates analysis of host immune response using Flow cytometry and other immunological methods
• Trains new personnel to work under high level biocontainment. This includes basic laboratory bench work and animal studies.
• Ensures that the staff are trained and evaluated on their knowledge of and adherence to compliance policies and procedures specific to their jobs.
• Understands and adheres to HMH CDI compliance standards.
• Keeps abreast of all pertinent federal and state regulations, laws and policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Lifts and handles laboratory animals and feed/equipment up to 50 pounds.
• Other duties and/or projects as assigned. 17. Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Bachelor`s degree in a relevant science.
• 6 years of experience in work with animal infection models under Biosafety level 3 containment.
• 4 years of experience in animal surgery.
• Comprehensive knowledge in Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
• Excellent organization and record-keeping skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are critical.
• Candidates must enroll and be given clearance by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Criminal Justice Information Services Division (CJIS) Security Risk Assessment.
• Must retain clearance to work with HHS Tier 1 Select Agents and be enrolled in the Select Agent Program Personnel Reliability Program.

 

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

• CDC approved for work with select agents. 

 

Licenses and Certifications Preferred:

•  AALAS certification (Amer Assoc for Lab Animal Scientists).

 

If you feel that the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!     

Minimum rate of $63,336.00 Annually

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members. The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package.

The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer. Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate. The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to:

Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness.
Experience: Years of relevant work experience.
Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training.
Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies.
Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location.
Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization.
Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered.


Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate. Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts.

In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.