Animal Study Associate/Lab Manager - 139272

Under general supervision, the incumbent will function as study director on animal studies (minipigs) and be responsible for preparation of study protocols, standard operating procedure, study scheduling and conduct, data collection, data analysis, and preparation of final reports describing study findings. Responsible for anesthesia, surgery, and physiological monitoring of rodents (rats, mice) investigations. Responsible for all aspects of rodent studies relating to neuro-anesthesia, including the set up, calibration and trouble shooting of monitoring/testing equipment, and colony management.

Perform calculation and administration of anesthetic drug dosages including investigational test articles, anesthetics, and pre- and post-surgery medications. Responsible for post-operative and critical care of experimental animals including managing respiratory and cardiac function, harvesting of organs for pathological exam, and compliance with all laboratory animal control and care regulations. Oversee the use of controlled substances (Class 1-V) including their inventory, purchase, maintenance of usage logs, disposal, and personnel training.

Work alongside the PI with small animal surgeries related to spinal transplantation of neuronal precursors. Perform whole body perfusion fixation and necropsy in mice and rats. Dissection of spinal cord and brain tissues. Prepare frozen and vibratome-cut spinal cord and brain sections from rats and mice and perform immunofluorescence staining. Performs additional, similar duties added as needed.

• Theoretical Knowledge of Animal Science, Animal Physiology and/or Biology.

• Theoretical knowledge of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics related to rodent experimentation.

• Theoretical knowledge of histology.

• Proven experience working with animal anesthesia and associated equipment; anesthetic vaporizers, flowmeters, gases and circuit systems. Calibration and experience with micro-blood gas/pH analyzers, pressure records, glucose/lactate analyzers, and other laboratory equipment used to analyze blood samples.

• Experience with rodent surgical procedures, sterile, and suturing techniques, and surgical instruments. Experience in rodent tissue harvesting techniques including spinal cord, brain, liver and kidney tissue.

• Experience interpreting physiological tests for large laboratory animals including CSF (glucose, protein, white blood count, specific gravity, hematocrit, blood, chemistry panel).

• Experience with injections including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal and intradermal injections.

• Proven knowledge, experience, and demonstrated ability in ensuring that proper safety requirements are enforced, particularly relating to the use and disposal of biohazardous agents and toxic chemicals

• Experience with sample collection including, intrathecal, intravenous, urine collection. Manual dexterity is required for conduct of all assay laboratory protocols.

• A good communicator, able to train and supervise personnel. Ability to conduct informal presentations; ability to work with a diverse group of investigators.

• Intermediate-to-advanced skill using spreadsheets, graphics and statistical software; experience using Excel, Prism, Stats/Graphics, Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator. Proven skills in data collection, handling and statistical analysis.

• Successful completion of UCSD Environmental Health and safety controlled substances training, working knowledge of regulations and compliance of controlled substances guidelines. Successful completion of UCSD IATA hazardous material and diagnostic specimen shipping training, working knowledge of shipping regulations.

• Must be willing to work with biohazardous (human, carcinogens) radioactive, corrosive and flammable materials.

• Must be willing to work some weekends and occasional overtime.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.