Job Description

Staff - Non Union

Job Category Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3

Job Title Animal Veterinary Research Technician

Department Kwon Pre-clinical Group | International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range $4,434.02 - $5,228.81 CAD Monthly

Posting End Date November 16, 2023

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date Nov 19, 2024

This position is located within a health-care facility, therefore, the successful candidate will be required to provide verification of full vaccination against Covid-19 provided prior to the start date, as required by a provincial health mandate.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary
The Animal Veterinary Research Technician (AVRT) will join a team of highly motivated and dedicated individuals to advance spinal cord injury research. The AVRT play will play a critical role in the research program by providing expert peri-operative care, ensuring health and well-being. The work environment is technically complex with the use of veterinary anesthetic machines, diagnostic and imaging devices, as well as specialized research equipment for in-vivo characterization of the spinal cord after injury.

Organizational Status
The International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) is a world leading health research centre focused on spinal cord injury. Located at the Vancouver General Hospital at the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, ICORD is supported by UBC Faculties of Medicine and Science, and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. Visit . As an ICORD principal investigator, orthopedic surgeon of the Vancouver Spine Surgery Institute, and director of the Vancouver Spine Research Program, Dr. Kwon runs an active translational research laboratory to study a broad range of topics from furthering our understanding of the basic science of spinal cord injury, to improve functional recovery after spinal cord injury in humans and animal models of SCI ( ). While the Kwon Research Lab is located at ICORD and project discussion meetings and other research-related tasks will take place ICORD, the work duties for this position will be carried out predominantly at UBC\xe2\x80\x99s Centre for Comparative Medicine. The AVRT works closely with Kwon Lab and other ICORd research staff and graduate students. The position involves close collaboration with Animal Care Technicians and Clinical Veterinarians at the UBC Animal Care Services facility governed by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) and UBC Animal Care Committee (ACC).

Work Performed

As part of our spinal cord injury research program the AVRT will provide consistent high quality and compassionate care to large animals (pig) and provide positive reinforcement behavioural training to animals throughout the course of the projects. Specific duties include:

Careful monitoring of physical, behavioural and environmental requirements of animals pre- and post- operatively.

Assesses health, attitude and behaviour of animals to determine if/when medical attention is required.

Performs surgical and nursing support procedures such as: IV catheter placement, blood collection, free-catch urine collection, bladder catheterization, and fluid maintenance, bandaging, wound care and other medical treatments

Administers medications or other substances by injection, orally, or topically, requiring close handling and some restraint of animals.

Sets up and troubleshoots IV pumps for drug and fluid delivery.

Calculates and administers multimodal continuous rate infusions.

Creates medical entries in records and ensures that this information is transmitted in a timely and efficient manner to the appropriate veterinary medical personnel.

Collects bio-samples, evaluates, prepares and performs laboratory tests (Complete Blood Count, Blood Gasses).

Real-time, camera-based monitoring of the health and well-being of experimental animals in care.

Performs behaviour training via positive reinforcement.

Sets up, operates, maintains and troubleshoots complex research equipment and software (Iscus flex, ICM+, labchart, and other monitoring equipment).

Performs other related duties as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The AVRT is expected to exercise a considerable amount of judgment, responsibility, and initiative in determining work procedures and methods pertaining to the large animal surgeries, and coordinate the work of the unit. High quality, scrupulous patient care and adherence to strict CCAC guidelines are prioritized to ensure positive outcomes for animal patients and research success. Carelessness during the performance of research duties could result in disruption or ruination of a research study, increased expenses, time loss and may jeopardize the lab\'s ability to secure funding by competing for research grants. Inappropriate judgment could also result in deterioration of animal health, including mortality and could lead to revoking of provincial licenses currently held by the university veterinarians.

Supervision Received
The AVRT reports to the Research Associate and Principal Investigator of the research group but may receive instruction from senior lab research staff as required during specific research tasks. This position requires strict adherence to protocols and standard operating procedures. The AVRT will receive guidance from the Veterinarians, Registered Veterinarian Technicians and Animal Care Technicians at CCM.

Supervision Given
This position does not supervise other staff, but may provide training to undergraduate students and junior staff members in techniques and procedures and operation of equipment; and ensure adherence to established SOP\xe2\x80\x99s and policies.

Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one\xe2\x80\x99s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one\xe2\x80\x99s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) designation and RLAT (or RLATR) CALAS certification and minimum of one year of experience in a research or large-animal setting preferred.

Experience working with small or large animal species in a research capacity.

Must demonstrate a sound theoretical and working knowledge of the principles and practice of laboratory animal science and working knowledge of veterinary technology, biomedical research, medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and intensive/critical care.

Experience with laboratory animal care and a good understanding of ethical issues and animal welfare in a research environment is an asset.

Previous anesthesia experience desired.

Ability to operate veterinary medical equipment independently (e.g., anesthetic machines, cautery machines, anesthetic monitoring equipment, pulse oximeter, Doppler, IV fluid pumps, syringe pumps, EtCO2 monitor, ventilator, imaging modalities, autoclaves, etc.).

Strong organizational and record-keeping skills are required. Effective oral and written communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, and attention to detail are required.

Ability to effectively use software at an advanced level (e.g., Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel, NTM eSirius).

Ability to work effectively and independently in a team environment.

Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, overnight, weekends, and statutory holidays.

Must be comfortable working alone, following UBC\xe2\x80\x99s strict \xe2\x80\x9cworking alone\xe2\x80\x9d policies.

Must be able to lift up to 10kg several times throughout the day and stand for long periods of time; work in an environment that requires continuous bending, stooping, twisting and turning; perform repetitive tasks; demonstrate good manual dexterity, mobility, auditory, olfactory, and visual skills.

Ability to perform the physical demands of the job including: working in humid environments with varying temperatures; and continuous exposure to animal dander, odours, excreta, dust, and noise.

Ability to operate job-related equipment (e.g., anesthetic machines, cautery machines, anesthetic monitoring equipment, pulse oximeter, Doppler, IV fluid pumps, syringe pumps, EtCO2 monitor, ventilator, autoclaves).

Must be comfortable handling various general laboratory reagents, research compounds, chemicals.

University of British Columbia