The Core Facility Research Specialist in the Cancer Modeling Shared Resource at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center will be responsible for providing animal care following standardized laboratory procedures in research settings under the direction of Dr. Bilbao. This individual will also provide support to research staff, by assisting with routine and specialized animal and laboratory procedures, demonstrating initiative and commitment to the upkeep of the facility, while recording data in a consistent, accurate, timely and legible manner. This person will also assist in the design and performance of scientific research.
Ensure laboratory and animal rooms are kept clean and organized. Maintain lab, storage areas, and treatment rooms daily including sweeping and mopping floors; sanitizes equipment and instruments according to established procedures. This includes working with departmental veterinary resources and other lab members to maintain general animal facility organization and cleanliness. Monitors inventory of equipment, animals and supplies and places orders in a timely fashion. Receive and verify shipments against purchase orders, bills, and other documents; stores animal feed and other lab supplies in a neat and orderly manner; rotates feed as required to ensure freshness; monitors feed supplies to ensure adequate availability. Provides food, water, and basic husbandry care for a small animal species. Receives and prepares animals for examination and downstream procedures like modeling and imaging. Participates in creating mouse models of disease (including injections, surgeries), non-invasive imaging of mice as well as behavioral monitoring and sample collection and analysis. Observes health conditions and behaviors of animals and reports any disease or abnormal behavior. Observes animals daily to assess health, environmental conditions, and social environment; monitors animals for impact of research and advises team members/veterinary staff of the same. Schedules and performs laboratory work based on project priorities to meet deadlines including performing pre-surgical treatments under a researcher’s direction, identification of the correct animal and administration of drugs at the proper dosages; preparing animal for surgical procedures according to established sterile standards, and assists in complex surgical procedures; maintaining and sterilizing equipment; supporting all aspects of colony management and associated technical procedures, like preparation and administration of compounds (intravenous, oral gavage, intraperitoneal), genotyping, as well as non-invasive imaging of mice; collecting biological samples (e.g., blood, tissues) and participate in their analysis. Facilitates team workflows in collaboration with team members and researchers to ensure that tasks, priorities, and goals are completed and coordinated with management. Help to develop, adapt and implement new animal-related procedures. Downloads, enters experimental data and maintains quality assurance including maintenance of cage cards, animal histories, and other records as required, including the collection and analysis of data for experimental purposes and quality control. Assists in maintaining laboratory documentation as required per established guidelines and industry standards. Also contributes to report writing and graphical presentation of data when required. Practices safety, environmental, and/or infection control methods like sterilizing laboratory equipment and when obtaining laboratory samples. May train or guide the work of students and other employees. Assist with lab management duties; ensure equipment is operated and maintained according to manufacturer’s instructions; ensure supplies are adequate for the work to be performed. Perform other duties as requested.