The posting
Job Description
The Division of Comparative Medicine in the College of Medicine at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is seeking a full-time Instructional Support Technician / Veterinary Technician.
Job Summary
The Veterinary Technician provides veterinary clinical and technical support for animals maintained in the institution’s research facilities. The Veterinary Technician supports the health and welfare of laboratory animals, assists with surgical procedures and anesthesia, performs clinical observations and prescribed treatments, and helps ensure that animal care and research activities comply with applicable federal and state requirements and institutional policies. The position supports a variety of research animal species, including USDA-covered species such as non-human primates, swine, sheep, and rabbits, and works closely with veterinary staff, researchers, and animal care personnel.
The position reports to the Veterinary Technician Supervisor and receives clinical direction from the facility Veterinarian, as needed.
Key Responsibilities and Duties
Clinical Care and Animal Welfare
- Conduct daily morning and afternoon vivarium rounds; observe, assess, and document animal health, welfare, and behavior, including signs of illness, injury, or psychological distress.
- Identify animals requiring veterinary attention; communicate concerns promptly and assist in triaging emergencies and coordinating follow-up care.
- Administer treatments prescribed by the facility veterinarian; collect biological samples, assist with diagnostic testing and physical examinations, and support care during quarantine or semiannual testing.
- Assist with rodent health surveillance, animal census activities, and species-specific enrichment and behavioral monitoring.
- Provide and document animal enrichment and implement approved exemptions from enrichment or social housing in accordance with IACUC protocols.
Surgical and Anesthesia Support
- Prepare operating rooms, surgical packs, instruments, equipment, and supplies for research procedures, including sterilization and readiness checks.
- Provide technical support throughout preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care for research animals, including non-human primates, swine, sheep, and rabbits.
- Assist with administration and monitoring of anesthesia, including in-depth monitoring and constant-rate infusions for large animal species, under veterinary direction.
- Provide prescribed postoperative treatments and monitoring, document recovery, and collaborate with investigators and laboratory personnel to improve surgical maintenance and recovery procedures.
- Handle, transfer, and/or administer controlled substances only as authorized and in accordance with applicable procedures.
Research Compliance, Documentation, and Quality Assurance
- Maintain accurate clinical, surgical, behavioral, enrichment, training, and animal census records, including required documentation for USDA-covered species.
- Enter animal health cases and required information into the designated electronic systems, including SharePoint and the Division of Comparative Medicine database.
- Record procedural, technical, and veterinary supply charges in the departmental database and support accurate animal census information used for billing.
- Communicate animal welfare concerns and potential noncompliance issues to veterinary and departmental leadership, principal investigators, and appropriate research staff.
- Liaise with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) regarding required enrichment and behavioral-monitoring documentation and approved exemptions.
- Assist with post-approval monitoring, including protocols involving controlled water access when assigned, and maintain official records under institutional retention requirements.
- Participate in routine facility quality-assurance activities, room checks, and the review and revision of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Training, Collaboration, and Departmental Support
- Teach and demonstrate humane, safe animal handling, procedural techniques, and appropriate use of laboratory and surgical equipment to researchers, technicians, students, and other personnel.
- Collaborate with principal investigators, research staff, veterinary staff, and animal care personnel to support research activities while maintaining animal welfare standards.
- Maintain equipment in working order and assist with veterinary supply inventory and stock.
- Provide responsive service to investigators and laboratory staff and work collaboratively in a dynamic research environment.
- Participate in occasional evening, weekend, or on-call rotations and provide coverage for colleagues as operationally required.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- An 18-month or 2-year degree from a veterinary technology program registered by the New York State Education Department or accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA CVTEA).
- New York State Veterinary Technician Licensure or eligible for licensure with limited permit.
- 3+ years of experience performing veterinary technical responsibilities, including at least 2-years in a hands-on role in an animal research facility working with all species, including taking the lead in surgery.
- Ability to follow established standard operating procedures, work independently and collaboratively, and communicate effectively with veterinary, research, and animal care personnel.
- Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Ability to lift or assist with the handling of heavy animals, including sheep, swine, and non-human primates.
- Flexibility to work occasional evenings, weekends, and on-call rotations based on departmental business needs.
- Preferred Qualifications
- Certification as a Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) or Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) through the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS).
- Certification as a Surgical Research Technician (SRT) or Surgical Research Anesthetist (SRA) through the Academy of Surgical Research (ASR).
- Experience providing veterinary clinical care, anesthesia monitoring, and surgical support involving USDA-covered research animal species, including non-human primates, swine, and sheep.
- Knowledge of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) requirements, animal welfare regulations, and laboratory animal research protocols.
About Us
Are you looking to take your career to new heights with a leader in healthcare? SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is one of the nation's leading metropolitan medical centers. As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn, we serve a large population that is among the most diverse in the world. We are also highly-ranked by Castle Connolly Medical, a healthcare rating company for consumers, among the top 5 leading U.S. medical schools for training doctors.
Equal Employment Opportunity
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction, and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.
Women, minorities, veterans, individuals with disabilities and members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please contact Human Resources at [email protected].
