Kelly Government Solutions is a strategic supplier and business partner to the federal government and its key suppliers. We are seeking an individual to work as a Neuroscience Animal Research Technician at the National Institutes of Health in Baltimore, MD.
This is a long-term contract position which offers:
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit package
- Optional health, vision, and dental plans
- Vacation leave as well as paid federal holidays and 401K plan.
- Access to NIH’s unparalleled resources and niche scientific initiatives
KEY TASKS
(1) Provide animal research support services and deliverables to the National Institute on Aging, Neurocognitive Aging Section.
(2) Conduct animal behavioral testing, including T-maze, step down, conditioned place preference/aversion, oral, inhalation and intravenous drug self-administration, forced-swim test, hot-plate, tail-flick, von Frey, locomotion, elevated plus maze, open-field, novel object recognition, ultrasonic vocalization recording and startle reflex
(3) Observe and record behavior of animals to detect maladjustment or stereotypies
(4) Collaborate with investigators to anticipate animal needs for lab research and colony maintenance; adjust the number of breeding pairs accordingly.
(5) Handle, dissect and euthanize animals.
(6) Update animal protocol through the submission of amendments and submission of new animal protocols
(7) Perform complex surgical techniques, necropsies, blood and tissue sample collection.
(8) Conduct technical procedures, intubation, sedation and insertion of catheters; perform physiological monitoring
(9) Obtain and prepare vaginal cytology smears for microscopic examination. Stain slides, analyze smears microscopically, and photograph
(10) Perform analysis of animal tissues; prepare frozen slices and paraffin sections, appropriately stained to demonstrate normal and abnormal structures; process tissue for immunohistochemistry
(11) Perform quantitative analysis; data analysis, figure preparation, and image acquisition; maintain complete and detailed records of all experiments
(12) Participate and collaborate in the preparation of scientific publications for peer reviewed journals based on the results
KEY QUALIFICATIONS
(1) Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline. Four years of specialized experience plus high school diploma are equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
(2) Certification as a Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) preferred
(3) Extensive experience that includes rat handling, animal surgery, tissue and tumor collection and removal, use of diagnostic or behavioral equipment, cytology slide preparation, and imaging with MRI