NIMH Research Specialist II (NIH/NIMH, Bethesda, MD)

Primary responsibilities: Administration of medical treatments to nonhuman primates in colony as prescribed by veterinarian. May perform general anesthesia in nonhuman primates for study-related procedures. Assists in nonhuman primate infant care, including weekend and evening stints as needed, as well as mornings. Maintains oversight of nonhuman primate colony for the laboratory, utilizing electronic records to track health, breeding, and experimental usage within the colony. Acquires deep knowledge of individual animals in the colony and is prepared to provide advice to the laboratory on pairing, animal compatibility, and enrichment. May perform ultrasonic examination on nonhuman primates as necessary for study projects. Assists with animal socializations (i.e. pairs or groups), and completes related documentation. Assists with colony data (paper and electronic) as per USDA requirements and NIH policies. Performs behavioral observations/assessments, both of individual animals and groups, when necessary and/or requested. Provides behavioral treatments to animals exhibiting certain behaviors. Provides conditioning training to animals when necessary and/or requested. Assists with developing, reviewing and revising laboratory-related SOPs and forms. Assists animal and research technicians in animal activities to include first aid response, pharmacy and pharmacology, physiology, physical examination, and treatment under the direction of a veterinarian with various animal species. Candidate will take technical direction from the NIMH investigative staff. Assist in a secondary support role with rodent study procedures. Other duties as assigned. Basic workweek of forty (40) hours per week with the start and the end of the workday dependent on the contract requirements of the workplace. Hours dictated by the institutional research schedule, weekend and holiday work maybe required. Must be reliable in attendance to ensure animals receive appropriate level of care. Potential for call-in to assist facility or animal health related emergencies. Potential to provide weekend coverage if there is short staffing and unable to find replacements. Light work; lifting to 50 pounds occasionally; repetitive lifting/manipulation of up to 10 pounds, applying up to 10 pounds constantly to move/roll objects. Customarily performs animal care, research management and administration duties in an environmentally controlled work area. However, technical and management duties may be performed in an animal care vivarium, barrier facility, surgical or test procedure laboratory, animal housing/bedding cleaning and processing areas. Work may require use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in these facilities. Laboratory environment and/or animal care work areas may be prone to hot and humid conditions, and subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, animal dander, and noise.