Biosafety Animal Technician

The Biosecurity Animal Technician will provide operational support for research in a animal biosafety level 3 agriculture (ABSL-3Ag) facility including work with livestock infected with pathogenic agents. This individual will assist the supervisory Animal Suite Manager with broad support and coordination of activities associated with infectious disease research and food safety and food security studies. Responsibilities include waste management, decontamination, adherence to animal welfare regulations, assisting research teams in project planning and operational logistics, and training research staff on procedures, protocols and equipment operation. Duties include report generation, database inputs and user interface, work with large animals (livestock) and small lab animals (rodents and rabbits) in BSL-3 and ABSL-3Ag research projects, assisting with coordinating animal space use assisting with technical procedures involving animals as required for research projects., decontaminating spaces and equipment with specialized technologies, and removal and decontamination of waste via alkaline hydrolysis tissue digestion equipment and autoclave sterilization. Position also supports necessary coordination for unique biocontainment areas used in food safety and security studies.

The position will require work on weekends as needed to fulfill research schedules on a shared shift schedule with other employees. Total hours will not typically exceed 40/week with equivalent week days off when weekend work is necessitated.

The Biosecurity Research Institute at Pat Roberts Hall on the Kansas State University Manhattan campus is a unique biocontainment research and education facility that has helped K-State become a national leader in biodefense research.

This position is on-site.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School diploma, two years of relevant experience, and an ALAT certification.
  This position may use an educational equivalency as determined relevant by a hiring manager.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Veterinary technician degree, certificate
• Experience working in a biocontainment facility at biosafety level 3 biosafety level 3Ag. AALAS certification at the Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) level.
• Working knowledge of Windows-based software, including word processing and spreadsheets.
• One or more years research animal care experience involving infectious disease research projects using both large (livestock) and small lab animals.
• Experience in application of biological safety principles and practices as applicable to infectious disease research involving animals.

Other Requirements:

• Obtain ALAT certificate within 14 months of hire.
• Attend and remain current on institutional and regulatory required training.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work cooperatively with office staff, researchers, facilities design and maintenance personnel, laboratory technical staff, external contractors, etc.
• Ability to learn and stay current in the rapidly advancing fields of animal biosafety and biocontainment.
• The position will require work on weekends as needed to fulfill research schedules on a shared shift schedule with other employees.
• Total hours will not typically exceed 40/week with equivalent week days off when weekend work is necessitated.
• Valid driver's license upon employment and maintain it.
• Ability to undergo and maintain a favorable background investigation and National Select Agent Registration security risk assessment. Ability to undergo and maintain a final US Government security clearance if required.
• Ability to pass a baseline physical.

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

Please submit the following documents:

X

Immediately and continues until position is filled.

$18.86 - $24.96 hourly