Assistant Animal Care Technician I, Vivarium-Science

at  University of Winnipeg

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Completion of first year of undergraduate Biology degree program or Animal Health Care Technician Diploma program or College is desirable.
• Some directly related animal care or animal husbandry experience or an acceptable combination of education and experience may be considered.
• A working knowledge of animal husbandry or work with animals would be considered an asset.
• Attend safety training orientation and comply with safety regulations and protocols, as well as cleanliness standards.
• Valid driver’s license an asset but not required.
• Ability to measure and record parameters.
• Working knowledge of basic lab equipment (pH and conductivity meter; referenced as HACH meter, centrifuge, incubator) and good laboratory practices.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions accurately.
• Ability to relate well with various levels of internal staff.
• Ability to work independently in carrying out assignments.
• Ability to work alone in a secure locked area (basement level); no natural light and situational awareness due to designated animal containment levels (clean vs dirty levels).
• No known allergies to animals, chemicals or plants.
• Current Tetanus immunization (recommended every 10 years).
• Rabies immunization and rabies titre test is required for work with bats.
• May require Biosecurity screening and security checks.

AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES MAY BE CONSIDERED.

Note: The work described in this posting will be conducted in-person.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognizes that a diverse staff and faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research environments, and is essential to academic and institutional excellence. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and encourage women, racialized persons, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons to confidentially self-identify at time of application.
The University of Winnipeg is committed to ensuring employment opportunities are accessible for all applicants. If you require accommodation supports during the recruitment process, please contact human_resources@uwinnipeg.ca.
The personal information of applicants is collected under the authority of the University of Winnipeg Act and 36(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. All personal information collected via the recruitment process is used to assess the applicant’s suitability, eligibility, and qualifications for employment, and to otherwise support recruitment activities. This information will be provided to participating members of the recruitment process. Questions regarding the collection of your personal information may be directed to the Director, HR Services, 515 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3B 2E9 or 204.786.9066

• Ensure compliance with animal user protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPS) and safe work protocols (SWPs).
• Fish maintenance of Medaka breeding and research colony (Goldfish and stickleback may be used as back-up):
• Check salt (NaCl) & Calcium Chloride (CaCl) dosing in tanks.
• Daily water change out of the Aquatic Skid water supply system.
• Maintaining Aquaneering Zebra fish housing: requires 10% water change out daily, cleaning filters 1 – 2x per week, checking U.V filtration, and monthly duties as required.
• Monitor ammonia/nitrate levels: replace charcoal filter and increase water changes to eliminate high values of ammonia, nitrates and nitrites in tanks (to maintain denitrifying bacteria).
• Living streams: clean and maintain water level including to cleaning filters and replacing substrate, measuring and recording temperature of water, adjusting heat if necessary.
• Monitor hardness and alkalinity of the system water.
• Use of a HACH metre to measure and record LDO, conductivity and pH water parameters.
• Monitor fish for various symptoms/diseases and treat as necessary.
• Paramecium culture: maintain and check daily.
• Fish Eggs in incubator: maintain and check daily when applicable.
• Larval fish: maintain and check daily when applicable.
• Medaka and amphibians (frogs): feed & change water out as per the schedule and directions provided by the Animal Care Technician.
• Use proper PPE when working with frogs/goldfish to avoid cross-contamination with other animals that may be pathogen-free or immune compromised.
• Rats, Mice:
• Monitor temperature/humidity and lighting daily in the Envision environmental monitoring system. Contact facilities for alarms or issues identified in the system.
• Use biosafety cabinet/change station for any procedures done with rats/mice.
• Provide specific environmental enrichment inside the cage for stimulus.
• Cage box change out: transfer animal from dirty to clean box micro with clean isolator top.
• Clean cage: including filter, fill metal food hopper with rodent chow, add clean shavings and a fresh water.
• Transfer dirty cage box to Dirty Side Cage washer room, discard soiled wood shavings and dispose into a Ventilated Dump Station garbage can.
• Cages boxes are loaded and washed in the automatic cage washer and unloaded in the clean room.
• Check food hoppers and water bottles daily and refill as required.
• Water bottle change out: remove dirty or empty water bottle from cage and transfer to dirty side cage wash room. Load and wash bottles in the cage washer, unload once clean and put into storage.
• Monitor animals’ health (symptoms/ behaviour) to prevent illness/disease. Report any issues to the Vivarium Director, Animal Technician or the Biology Lab Manager who will contact the VIC (Veterinarian in Charge) if required. An adverse event report is required for incidents or sick/deceased animals.
• Dismantle cage racks and plenums (using PPE gloves) and clean/sanitize in the automatic cage washer every 6 months and reassemble.
• Report any equipment housing issues to the Vivarium Director, Animal Technician or the Biology Lab Manager who will contact the VIC (Veterinarian in Charge) if required.
• Replace pre-filters on the blowers monthly.
• Bats-Wild Life Facility:
• Perform all duties in the bat room as dictated and guided by the Animal Care Protocol written/amended periodically by the Researcher and/or the research staff.
• Duties may include observing the bats (via computer screen) as well as hand feeding the bats.
• Contacting the Animal Care Technician or researcher via email or phone if it is observed that a bat is compromised in any way.
• Check rabies immunization requirement and types of rabies vaccine available.
• Sweep and wash all floors in the complex daily, clean sinks.
• Bag and remove garbage from the complex to the hallway outside the Vivarium daily.
• Remove dead/deceased animals as required.
• Contain and dispose of all biohazardous materials.
• Properly store chemicals, read MSDS and use proper PPE (person protective equipment).
• Cut tips of needles using sharps cutter box and properly dispose of all sharps in sharp container.
• Assist with disinfection of rooms and with environmental sampling with contact plates (quarterly) if required.
• Assist in maintaining Wildlife Facility (this may include animals obtained from external sources including birds, voles, etc.
• Greenhouse facility: participate in Biology weekend tech rotation and coverage for winter break; Christmas closure: potential to cover first weekend of January and Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day).
• Water plants according to schedule/orientation provided by Greenhouse Technician.
• Measure/note/record pH, soil or water parameters if required.
• Move, lift or transplant plants if required, clean up area of leaves/debris.
• Follow protocols/procedures highlighted by Greenhouse technician.
• Monitor/adjust Argus control only if instructed by Greenhouse technician.