Specialist, Laboratory Animal Research

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) School of Medicine, Department of Trauma Research Advanced Resuscitation in Combat Casualty Care Laboratory (ARC3 Lab), is seeking a full-time Specialist, Laboratory Animal Research to provide advanced veterinary technical and laboratory animal support for preclinical and translational research programs. This position will play a critical role in supporting large animal surgical and procedural studies through anesthesia administration, perioperative monitoring, animal handling, regulatory compliance, and clinical research operations across multiple laboratory and vivarium environments.

The successful candidate will work independently with faculty, veterinarians, principal investigators, and research teams to support complex animal research protocols while ensuring compliance with institutional, USDA, IACUC, and laboratory animal welfare standards.

SCOPE OF ROLE

Accomplishes responsibilities by applying specialized and theoretical knowledge, principles, and concepts of a professional discipline normally acquired through advanced education or specialized training. Resolves issues and significant matters on behalf of management by utilizing independent judgment, discretion, creativity, and analytical thinking. Contributes to development and evaluation of goals and objectives. Creates solutions to ensure legal and policy compliance. May supervise, mentor, or coordinate work of others (positions that supervise are responsible for service delivery, quality assurance, and employee performance). May independently manage or administer programs, processes, projects, or resources.

Applies in-depth, senior level knowledge, concepts, principles, and skills. Wide latitude in decision making to interpret unclear or inadequate guidelines. Supervisor and employee collaborate to develop goals and objectives. Confers with supervisor only on controversial or far reaching matters. Proactively resolves broad and unique matters requiring sophisticated analysis and interpretation. Acts as resource to others.

Job Summary:

The Laboratory Research Specialist Animal is responsible for performing research activities at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Functions as a single specialist in a laboratory setting, is responsible for providing the advanced technical expertise to research project(s), and must follow and complete advanced pathways to provide an animal `whole body care¿ as it applies to the area of specialty to achieve this job title. The position will work in a highly collaborative environment to achieve research project goals by designing studies, performing laboratory experiments, analyzing data, writing reports, presenting results, and training staff and students.

Work is performed in accordance with animal welfare regulations, USDA, the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, Public Health Services (PHS), Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW), Association for assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines, and/or United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) 21CFR58 Good Laboratory Practices Regulations.

Primary Duties:

• Perform independent project(s) and participate in the design of research studies. Perform procedures utilizing specific skillsets or advanced treatments as dictated by the veterinarian in charge. Compile, analyze, and interpret research data using various relevant computer software applications.

• Independently perform day to day laboratory research activities such as: general housekeeping, daily observations of animal health; collection of cultures and biological specimens for diagnostic testing and monitoring of animal health; diagnostic molecular (ELISA), bacteriological, or biological assays; breeding colonization processes; irradiation of blood products; and executing biochemical or hematopoietic procedures such as: bone marrow aspirations, complete blood count, white cell differential, electrophoresis, blotting, chromatography, PCR and DNA extractions, etc.; and may require performing psychological enrichment of certain species.

• Performs laboratory animal support activities such as surgical, anesthesia, enrichment, diagnostics, good laboratory practice, internal-medical and biohazardous research and may contribute to the design of related activities.

• Administer day-to-day laboratory operations including monitoring and advise on the budget, ensuring quality control and safety compliance, developing policies and procedures, and ordering supplies including the identification of supply sources. Maintain proper operation of research equipment, ensuring proper operation records, cleaning, ordering of required components and explaining/resolving technical issues.

• Conduct library research and participates in editing and preparing manuscripts, scientific illustrations and computer graphics for publication. Contribute to the preparation of journal articles and grant proposals. Presents research findings.

• Prepare materials for research studies, including sample collection kits and research documents.

• Assist in the training of undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral, international fellows, and/or junior technical personnel in the performance of a variety of laboratory techniques.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in biology, agriculture, veterinary science, biochemistry, chemistry, or field of study related to the animal science.

• Experience: Three (3) years of experience working with animals in a research laboratory setting or in an animal hospital is preferred, including two (2) years in the relevant research specialization in rodent/multi-species clinical evaluation/procedures.

• Certification/Licensure: Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist (RLATg), Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), or Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) certifications preferred.