Animal Care & Research Technician

Position Title:

Animal Care & Research Technician

Work Type:

Full time

Location:

Swarthmore College

Approved Location Type:

On Campus

Department:

Work Shift:

Day Shift (United States of America)

Who We Are:

The Psychology Department at Swarthmore College is a vibrant and
diverse academic department with a strong emphasis on providing
students with hands-on experience in collaborative cutting-edge
research. Students have the opportunity to work closely with
faculty members using state-of-the-art facilities, including the
EEG/ERP imaging facility and the animal facility.

The Opportunity:

The Animal Care & Research Technician (ACRT) will be
responsible for working with staff, faculty, and students to
maintain the day-to-day operations of vertebrate and non-vertebrate
labs in the Psychology and Biology Departments. The core
responsibilities of the ACRT are focused on animal husbandry,
including daily health and welfare checks, providing food, water,
and enrichment, and changing animal cages. In addition, the ACRT
will also assist with research activities as directed by the PIs,
including curricular support for laboratory-based courses (e.g.,
research practica). While the primary supervisor of this position
is the chair of the Psychology Department, the ACRT will take
direction from the Animal Facility Specialists and faculty in
Psychology and Biology.

The position will require flexible time management and acquisition
of new competencies as the animal facility and research projects
change over time. The ACRT is expected to learn how to perform all
duties listed below and to use this knowledge to help train
students as needed. This is a full-time, 35 hour per week position
that will be required to work some weekend days and some holidays,
including winter break, as part of their regular schedule. This
position may be ideal for a recent graduate in Psychology,
Neuroscience, Biology, or a related field, or someone interested in
a career in biomedical research, animal husbandry, and/or
laboratory management.

Essential Responsibilities:

Animal Care

• Routine animal husbandry care, including health care checks,

behavior observation, handling, adding food and water, reporting
injury/illness, and administering emergency health treatments when
needed

• Daily cage changing, operating cage washer, sanitizing animal

cages, racks, and equipment

• Daily cleaning of animal spaces such as sweeping, mopping,

wiping down surfaces, emptying trash

• Assist with keeping inventory of animals and supplies; rotating

stock; and ensuring all appropriate spaces are equipped with
supplies

• Complete daily logs and all relevant non-research related

record keeping for regulatory oversight

• Share in on-call responsibilities
• Comply with federally mandated animal welfare regulations and

institutional animal care and use policies

• Occasionally perform humane euthanasia of animals.
• Report any concerns, issues, emergencies to the Animal Facility

Specialist and/or appropriate personnel, including the PIs and the
IACUC veterinarian.

Facility Maintenance

• Work directly with Facilities for equipment and facility upkeep

and repairs

Training & Research Activities

• Participate in standard facility training and research-specific

training (i.e., in person, virtual, CITI modules, etc)

• Has and maintains medical clearance to meet Occupational Health

and Safety Program Requirements (PHS Assurance)

• Read lab protocols
• Train and supervise students working in the lab when

needed

• Assist in research-related activities as directed by PIs, which

may include-

• Weighing animals and food
• Separating rodent pups from mothers
• Changing food in cages or behavior apparatuses
• Transferring animals to behavioral rooms and/or behavioral

apparatuses

• Applying experiment-related labels to cages and/or behavioral

apparatuses

• Operating and troubleshooting home-cage feeding devices
• Assisting with set-up and breakdown of experimental

equipment

• Assisting with collection of behavioral measurements in

behavioral rooms

• Assisting with collection of tissue or blood samples
• Assisting with surgeries
• Assisting with injections
• Assisting with neural recordings
• Taking detailed notes
• Notifying PIs of deviations from instructions or

protocols.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Prior experience working with animals in some capacity or

demonstrated potential to work in an animal research
setting.

• Background that indicates familiarity with scientific

concepts and principles, or a willingness to learn scientific
concepts and principles.

• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Google

equivalents (Docs, Sheets, Slides)

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, or

related field.

• Experience working in an animal research facility or equivalent

laboratory environment.

• Prior experience with facilities/equipment

troubleshooting.

The market range for this position is $22.00-$25.00 per hour,
which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate
of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is
determined based on factors including, but not limited to,
experience and education of the final selected candidate,
departmental budget availability, internal salary equity
considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all
staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Applications received are reviewed on a rolling basis until the
position is filled. An optional cover letter indicating how your
qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position
is preferred. If you have experience that meets any of the
preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of
any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the
preferred qualification(s).

Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an
employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100%
vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore Benefits and Programs

Retirement
Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect
and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense
of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse
perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a
demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world.
Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not
discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by
law or College Policy.