Aquatic Animal Facility Assistant
Johns Hopkins - Baltimore, MD
posted 3 months ago
About the position
The Johns Hopkins University Department of Biology is seeking to hire a part-time Aquatic Animal Facility Assistant who will ensure technical and aquatic animal husbandry services at the JHU Department of Biology. This role is crucial for the provision of animal husbandry to aquatic species, specifically zebrafish, which may be utilized in biomedical research. The assistant will be responsible for various husbandry tasks, sanitation, and support functions, all conducted in accordance with established policies, including those set by the Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC) and the standard operating procedures for the animal facility. The Aquatic Animal Facility Assistant will work independently on routine tasks, ensuring that the aquatic species receive the appropriate level of care. This includes feeding, observing and reporting any abnormalities in animals or equipment, and performing environmental monitoring such as water quality checks. The assistant will also lead husbandry staff, ensuring consistency in care and adherence to established protocols. The role requires reliability in attendance, especially during scheduled work hours, which are dictated by the institutional research schedule, and includes availability on University Holidays. In addition to routine husbandry tasks, the assistant will assist in experimental planning and logistics, participate in ongoing training programs, and maintain accurate records and logbooks. The successful candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills, enabling effective communication with facility users, and will be responsible for ensuring that all procedures comply with facility policies and regulations. The role may also involve cleaning aquarium tanks and coordinating the use of aquatic procedure areas, ensuring that all necessary supplies are stocked and available for use.
Responsibilities
- Provide animal husbandry to aquatic species (zebrafish) and perform husbandry room activities including feeding.
- Observe and report any abnormalities in animals, equipment, or facilities to the floor supervisor, investigators, or building managers.
- Perform husbandry and environmental monitoring (e.g., water quality, pH, conductivity, water tubing) in accordance with established SOPs.
- Lead husbandry staff (e.g., student workers) in feeding and daily maintenance protocols for consistency in care.
- Ensure that procedures and practices involving the program of animal care are appropriate for the continued maintenance of ACUC accreditation of the facilities.
- Assist in experimental planning and logistics and scheduling of projects (such as sperm freezing, gate pulling, breeding programs).
- Participate in an ongoing employee training program.
- Perform job tasks and duties in compliance with facility policies and regulations.
- Adhere to equipment sanitation and sterilization schedules.
- Ensure that records, logbooks, databases, and other project records are appropriately maintained.
- Recommend changes in operational procedures that might increase the efficiency or effectiveness of work procedures or practices.
- Safely and correctly handle and restrain animals for observation or minor procedures.
- Assist in the receipt of animals, supplies, and feed.
- Effectively communicate in English (both oral and written form) and demonstrate good leadership, team building, and management skills.
- Clean dirty aquarium tanks and deliver tanks to designated facilities for cage wash activities.
- Coordinate the use of all aquatic procedure areas, keeping them stocked with supplies.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or graduation equivalent.
- One year of related experience in animal husbandry or a similar field.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interact with facility users.
- Ability to recognize various parasites, abnormal clinical chemistry values, and abnormal behaviors of animals.
- Effective communication skills in English, both oral and written.
Nice-to-haves
- Associate's Degree in Veterinary Technology, Animal Science or Biology preferred.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
