NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BRANCH OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE 

Division: Discovery
Department: Biology
Reports To: Senior Scientist, Pharmacology
FLSA Status: Exempt
Effective Date: December 2019

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:
Education:

• BS in a relevant biological scientific discipline and two to four years of related experience; or,
• MS in a relevant biological scientific discipline and zero to two years of related experience
• Equivalent combination of education and experience

• Proficiency with in vivo techniques including iv, ip, sc, po administration, and blood collection (tail vein, retroorbital, cardiac puncture, submandibular and etc.) is required
• Proficiency in animal tumor model development and execution including but not limited to syngeneic, xenograft and humanized mouse model is essential
• Good practice with in vitro sterile cell culture and scale-up for tumor implantation is required
• Ability to conduct organ harvesting; transcardial perfusion and fixation from small animals
• Adept at sample processing, homogenization, or generation of single-cell suspensions for ex vivo analysis
• Experience with immunology-related biological assays, flow cytometry, MSD and Luminex is a plus
• Excellent data analysis skills and experience with a variety of scientific software applications is preferred
• Proficiency with computers including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel is required

• General knowledge of pharmacokinetics, pharmacology and immunology techniques, theories, and practices
• General understanding of how the individual experiments fit within a larger research program to meet organizational goals
• General understanding and application of scientific principles, theories and concepts in field of specialty and other related disciplines
• Ability to perform in a fast-paced environment and be flexible
• Ability to adapt to changing work conditions
• Must be self-motivated, able to multi-task and detail-oriented
• Strong communication skills, excellent work ethic, self-motivation, and ability to work effectively in a either a team environment or independently
• Understanding of regulatory requirements to run an in vivo facility
• Collaborate with other project team members

• Work on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors
• Exercise judgment within generally defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions
• Use professional concepts and company policies and procedures to solve a wide range of difficult problems in imaginative and practical ways

Division: Discovery
Department: 10231 Discovery Biology
Reports To: Scientist I
FLSA Status: Exempt
Effective Date: June 2020

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:
Education:

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.S.) in related discipline and up to two years of relevant experience; or
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Proficient with in vivo techniques including animal handling, dosing methods (iv, ip, sc, po), blood collection techniques (tail vein, RO, cardiac puncture, etc.), tumor implantation and measurement, and tissue collection from small laboratory animals.
• Experience with aseptic technique, in vitro cell culture and cell culture scale-up for implantations is preferred.
• Experience handling and processing biological samples in a laboratory setting.
• Excellent data analysis skills and experience with a variety of scientific software applications is preferred.
• Proficiency with computers including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Excel is required. Experience with GraphPad Prism and StudyLog software is preferred.

• General knowledge of pharmacokinetics, pharmacology and vivarium techniques, theories, and practices.
• General understanding of how individual experiments fit within a larger research program to meet organizational goals.
• General understanding and application of scientific principles, theories and concepts in field of specialty and other related disciplines.
• Strong communication skills, excellent work ethic, self-motivation, and ability to work effectively in a either a team environment or independently.
• Collaborate with other project team members.

• Work on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires evaluation of identifiable factors.
• Exercise judgment within generally defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.

Qualifications:

In hiring new employees, we look for people who are also inspired by our mission and who would fit in well with the collaborative, rigorous and entrepreneurial spirit of the company culture. Because we know that employees are critical to our success in bringing novel medicines to patients, we are dedicated to remaining a great place to work and to providing employees with programs, services and benefits that allow them to bring their best to the business and to their personal lives. We are looking for a team player who is a creative, independent thinker, thrives in a widely interdisciplinary environment, and enjoys working closely and communicating effectively with colleagues in extremely diverse fields.

The ideal candidate will be ACLAM board certified, board eligible, or have advanced experience and expertise in the area of lab animal medicine. The candidate must have the ability to obtain a veterinary medical license in California.

The ideal candidate will have experience in building and leading teams, managing people and animal research facilities, and have strong interpersonal and communication skills.

The ideal candidate will have experience providing excellent clinical and surgical care in the lab animal field, including transgenic rodents, providing technical support to research projects, collaborating with researchers, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and AAALACi standards, and training/teaching research and lab animal staff.

This position is located in SSF, but willingness to collaborate across time zones and occasional travel to the Dixon facility is a must.


Who We Are

A member of the Roche Group, Genentech has been at the forefront of the biotechnology industry for more than 40 years, using human genetic information to develop novel medicines for serious and life-threatening diseases. Genentech has multiple therapies on the market for cancer & other serious illnesses. Please take this opportunity to learn about Genentech where we believe that our employees are our most important asset & are dedicated to remaining a great place to work.

Genentech is an equal opportunity employer & prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin/ancestry, age, disability, marital & veteran status. For more information about equal employment opportunity, visit our Genentech Careers page.

Our lab:
The Tsao lab (http://tsaolab.caltech.edu/) studies the neural mechanisms underlying vision in non-human primates and mice. We study questions related to object recognition, spatial perception, memory, and consciousness. We use multiple approaches including functional MRI (fMRI), electrophysiology, widefield and two-photon imaging, and mathematical modeling.

Work with Non-Human Primates:
The job will involve hands-on coordination of our animal colony (overseeing the health and welfare of the animals, interfacing with animal care and veterinary staff), assisting with surgeries and anesthesia, preparing and administering medications, and training animals on behavioral tasks.

Research and Management:
The Lab Manager will assist with fMRI experiments and other ongoing projects in the lab. Responsibilities also include purchasing and maintenance of equipment and supplies and maintenance of laboratory records. The Lab Manager also coordinates projects with other offices and labs on campus to ensure compliance and safety.


For more information or to apply, please email Doris Tsao (dortsao@caltech.edu). Please include a CV and contacts of at least two references in your application.

Benefits of being an Apex Employee:

• One Paid AALAS Certification (ALAT, LAT, LATG)
• PTO, Sick Time and Holiday pay
• Attendance and performance incentives and team building activities
• Medical, Vision and Dental coverage options
• Long and Short Term Disability, Life Insurance, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401(k) plan, Transit Account and additional Insurance offerings

Benefits of being an Apex Employee:

• One Paid AALAS Certification (ALAT, LAT, LATG)
• PTO, Sick Time and Holiday pay
• Attendance and performance incentives and team building activities
• Medical, Vision and Dental coverage options
• Long and Short Term Disability, Life Insurance, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401(k) plan, Transit Account and additional Insurance offerings

Qualifications:

• 2 or 4-year degree in basic science, animal science, or veterinary science with 8+ years of experience in a vivarium supervisory role with management/leadership responsibilities
• MA, MS, MBA, or other advanced degree in related scientific/business management field highly desirable
• AALAS-LATg, CMAR, ILAM, and/or CPIA (or international equivalent)
• Management of vivarium under GLP or GMP compliance, BSL-2 and/or breeding of immune-compromised animal models
• Familiar with working in a matrix environment with reporting responsibilities to Attending Veterinarian, compliance and quality assurance roles, and the Executive Committee
• Optimization of vivarium roles and functions including but not limited to colleague development and job expectations
• Management of business processes (i.e. SOPs, metrics, cost of ownership etc,) and reporting of vivarium operational efficiencies, workplace safety, preventative maintenance and cost analyses in responsible areas
• Past participation on IACUC committee and/or semi-annual inspections is desirable
• Possess working depth of knowledge and compliance with the Guide (2011) and direct participation with AAALAC site visitors
• Exercises excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills to build collaborative relationships, a strong commitment to providing quality research scientific support, and humane animal care in accordance with guidelines and regulations pertaining to Laboratory Animal Care
• Works effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team, leading projects and people successfully in a dynamic-paced team environment.
• Has an affinity for results-based approaches to documentation, quality and consistency in the execution of all duties

• Must be available to support weekend, holiday, emergency, and after-hour operational responsibilities
• Able to lift 50-lbs and/or maneuver vivarium equipment, and work from a standing position for prolonged time periods and perform repetitive motion tasks
• Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change based on business needs and unanticipated shifts

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintains animal room records including, but not limited to animal identification, cage side observations/clinical observations and environmental parameters (e.g. temperature, humidity). Observes, records and reports atypical findings to veterinary staff and/or senior personnel.
• Independently reads and understands study protocols and relevant SOPs prior to performing associated duties on designated research projects;
• Performs all aspects of a study cycle for grant, internal, and/or contract research studies including, but not limited to:
• Primary Technician role and responsibility;
• receipt, distribution and husbandry of animals;
• orders materials and supplies as required for projects;
• prepares forms and generates study books;
• prepares procedure rooms with all necessary supplies, materials and equipment required for projects;
• verifies drugs/agents prior to use and calculates dose administrations;
• performs dosing regimen, blood collection, frequency of sample, euthanasia, tissue collection and data collection;
• uses anesthetics for unconscious and/or surgical procedures;
• monitors grant, internal, and/or contract research studies in progress and clinically evaluates;
• observes, records and reports atypical findings to veterinary staff or senior personnel;
• critically evaluates data; tabulate, graph and perform basic statistical analysis;
• performs data quality control review according to SOPs or study protocols;
• may interact with clients to provide necessary information about study.
• May perform in vitro assays including, but not limited to:
• RNA/DNA purification;
• Real-time PCR/RT-PCR;
• PCR;
• Reagent and dose formulations for in vivo studies;
• ELISA, ELISPOT;
• Multicolor flow cytometry (cell preparation and analysis);
• Preparation of virus stock, virus titration, antibody neutralization, and T-cell assays;
• Cell preparation and culture (human and animal cell isolation, magnetic bead cell purification);
• Serum chemistries and CBCs;
• Additional assay system development based on project needs
• With guidance from senior scientific staff, may serve as a Study Director to conduct assigned research studies of basic complexity including, but not limited to:
• Study Director role and responsibility according to SOPs;
• generates study protocols, study amendments and study timelines;
• generates IACUC protocols, IACUC amendments, and serve as the Principal Investigator on IACUC protocols;
• may participate in the proposal management and budgetary process,
• orders materials and supplies as required for projects;
• generates study calendars (and matrices if applicable);
• may direct study performance including the oversight of primary technicians and the QC of data.
• may review, interpret and present data as applicable for assigned studies;
• generates Data Submission, Final Reports and/or Summary Reports;
• May review/edit company guidelines and SOPs.
• May work directly with Scientists and Scientific Directors on assigned projects.
• May acquire Designated Trainer role and assist with personnel training including training for technical procedures and competency testing.
• Comprehends procedures and performs tasks according to company policies and SOPs.
• Complies with all regulatory guidelines, occupational health as well as health and safety programs, in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Performs other related Research Associate I duties as required.

• Education/Experience: Bachelors of Science degree in a Life Sciences discipline and 5 years related experience OR
• High School diploma/GED and 8 years directly related work experience in laboratory animal husbandry and technical skills as detailed above required.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• Certification/Licensure: AALAS Certification at the LAT level preferred.
• Other: Basic computer skills required.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in the documentation and veterinary clinical care of all laboratory animal health cases identified by technical staff and/or veterinarian.
• Performs routine veterinary, technical and husbandry skills including but not limited to the following:
• administer medications by oral, topical and injectable routes of administration;
• bandage/wrapping techniques;
• nail/teeth clipping/trimming;
• venipuncture techniques;
• verifies drugs/medications prior to use and calculates dose administrations;
• proficient animal restraint techniques;
• monitor critical care animals (i.e., place IVs, monitor fluids, etc.);
• specimen collection such as blood and feces;
• perform diagnostic testing on samples such as parasite checks and identification.
• Monitors animal health, by performing rounds, responding to animal health reports, and by following detailed schedules.
• Under minimal supervision, triage and assess animal health, provide immediate care to emergency cases.
• Performs minor surgical procedures.
• Generates animal treatment records and perform, track and schedule follow-ups.
• Consult with clinical veterinarian on treatment options.
• Follow Behavior and Enrichment team guidance for small animal acclimation and enrichment practices
• Maintains animal room records including, but not limited to animal identification, cage side observations/clinical observations and environmental parameters (e.g. temperature, humidity). Observes, records and reports atypical findings to veterinary staff and/or senior personnel.
• Maintains appropriate medical records for each animal in accordance with study and regulatory requirements. Assist in maintaining accurate record keeping procedures for the laboratory animal medicine department.
• Maintain and follow complex procedures to ensure appropriate animal health and treatment.
• Assist in keeping inventory and monitoring expiration dates of veterinary supplies.
• May be responsible for tissue sampling, routine animal manipulations and administration of fluids or other treatments as required in collaboration with the study director and Research Associates.
• Assist in surgery and peri-surgery care (e.g. provide and monitor anesthesia, prepare sterile surgical packs, administer supportive therapy).
• Independently reads and understands study protocols and relevant SOPs prior to performing associated duties on designated research projects.
• May perform aspects of a study cycle for grant, internal, and/or contract research studies including, but not limited to technical in-life procedures.
• May review/edit company guidelines and SOPs.
• May acquire Designated Trainer role and assist with personnel training including training for technical procedures and competency testing.
• Comprehends procedures and performs tasks according to company policies and SOPs.
• Complies with all regulatory guidelines, occupational health as well as health and safety programs, in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Performs other related Research Associate I duties as required.

• Education/Experience: Bachelors of Science degree in a Life Sciences discipline and two (2) years related experience OR
• CVT/LVT/RVT certification and two (2) years directly related work experience in laboratory animal husbandry and technical skills as detailed above OR
• High School diploma/GED and four (4) years directly related work experience in laboratory animal husbandry and technical skills as detailed above required.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• Certification/Licensure: AALAS Certification at the LAT level preferred.
• Other: Basic computer skills required.

About Berkeley
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world’s leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

• Design curriculum for supported undergraduate and graduate students, laboratory staff, principal investigators and others as directed by the Supervisor, OLAC Director or ACUC/OACU. Collaborate with others performing training to ensure consistency.
• Collaborate with veterinary staff to assist and facilitate training that they provide.
• Lead training material creation through collaboration with management, veterinary staff, process, operations and compliance teams.
• Measure, interpret and improve training effectiveness, identify and implement opportunities to reduce training time.
• Incorporate product updates and determine how changes are reflected in materials by updating facilitator and participant guides, learning checks and agendas.
• Act as subject matter expert in all animal care programs and products.
• Facilitate other subject matter expert training, including veterinary staff and visiting investigators.
• Collaborate with project teams by developing ideas, supporting processes and suggesting improvements.
• Conduct and participate in Train the trainer sessions.

• Provide direct training using a variety of techniques including blended learning and adult learning principles (visual, auditory and kinesthetic). Oversee didactic and on the job training activities that are performed independently.
• Ensure classroom logistics such as materials, equipment, supplies and systems access are organized.
• Identify training needs of research staff and students and ensure necessary training is conducted; consult on and assist with same needs for OLAC staff.
• Notify veterinary staff of any deficiencies in animal care related to deficiencies in knowledge and training.
• Autonomously lead training sessions for students and laboratory personnel regarding basic animal care and peri-veterinary skills (ie handling, injections, aseptic technique, anesthesia, euthanasia); consult on and assist with applicable training for OLAC staff.
• Coordinate and lead facility orientations for new animal use personnel in collaboration with EH&S and OLAC husbandry personnel.
• Consult with partners (OLAC management, investigative staff, ACUC/OACU) for questions regarding training needs, materials and/or policy and procedures, including communication in the form of user emails, facility signage, town hall meetings, website.
• Assist in maintaining training animal colony and animal use protocol.
• Practice and maintain technical skill sets and procedures, further self-training on new and established techniques.

• Facilitate, help plan and schedule didactic and on the job training performed by veterinary staff or other subject matter experts, including vendors.
• Ensure applicable pre-requisites are met.
• Ensure classroom logistics such as materials, equipment, supplies and systems access are organized.

• Evaluate trainee progress through formal competency reviews and implement performance improvement interventions as needed. Assist Animal Care Staff Trainer in conducing performance assessments gauging readiness and approval for new hire certification.

• Partner with quality assurance team to ensure training and quality assurance standards are aligned (ie sanitation, biosecurity, documentation).
• Document training as required by regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Applies professional training and development skills to resolve and address a wide range of training issues and needs assessments.
• May support faculty to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
• May consult with instructors to determine methods for delivery of course content and effective use of technology.
• Develops new training programs and courses in response to campus' training needs.
• Designs and conducts more complex training programs to address issues of diverse scope that are aligned with campus strategies.
• Demonstrates good judgment in selecting methods and techniques for delivering training and development programs.
• Interacts with senior internal and external personnel.
• Normally receives little direction on on-going training assignments.
• Receives general instructions on new training program assignments, projects and initiatives.
• Conducts needs analysis and evaluates effectiveness of training programs.
• Works in a collaborative manner with others in a diverse environment and at all levels in the organization to prioritize work assignments, conduct analysis and develop recommendations.
• May assume responsibility for specific training programs and initiatives.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as site Animal Welfare specialist.
• Investigates animal welfare issues, discuss with welfare team; makes recommendations as needed for disciplinary action.
• Communicates any actions to Corporate Animal Welfare.
• Participates on behalf of site at annual AWS retreats.
• Trains departmental staff on all levels of husbandry and production tasks including feeding, watering, and cleaning cages as required.
• Ensures proper breeding procedures.
• Maintains appropriate levels of assigned specialized rodent breeds, including nudes, inbred, and SCIDS.
• Trains departmental staff on specialized tasks in one or more of the following areas: packing and shipping animals to customer, performing animal surgeries; and/or creating sterile water supplies as assigned.
• Trains departmental staff in monitoring animal health visually and follow swab and health monitoring schedules.
• Trains personnel in keeping accurate departmental and isolator records. Participates in preparation of reports, offers, and completes customer paperwork.
• Performs quarterly audits of each inbred room.
• Maintains weekly record keeping of inbred books. Maintain monthly/quarterly inbred trees.
• Understands, complies with and trains personnel in SOPs pertaining to specific area. Provides input into the creation/revision of SOPs and assists in the implementation and training of new SOPs.
• Strictly follows all procedures necessary to maintain the isolator and/or barrier room barrier.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (G.E.D.)
• 1 year of training experience

• Bachelor's degree in Animal Science or a related field.
• 1-2 years of training and animal welfare experience
• AALAS Certification