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Accept the Challenge to Accept the Challenge to CareCare

Careers in Biomedical Research

What is biomedical What is biomedical research?research?

Biomedical researchers study ways to prevent, treat and cure diseases that cause illness and death in...◦People◦Animals

Who conducts biomedical Who conducts biomedical research?research?

PhysiciansScientistsResearch Technicians Computer ScientistsEngineers


Veterinarians


Laboratory Animal Science Technicians

What is laboratory animal What is laboratory animal science?science?

Lab animal science is the area of biomedical research that specializes in the humane care and responsible use of animals for medical research, testing and teaching.

What are the three Rs?What are the three Rs?ReplacementReductionRefinement“Provide the BEST QUALITY

of life possible without compromising the integrity of the study”

Careers in Lab Animal Careers in Lab Animal ScienceScienceLab Animal VeterinarianLab Animal Veterinary TechnicianVivarium Supervisor/Manager Lab Animal Care TechnicianVivarium Support TechnicianAnimal BehavioristEnvironmental Enrichment TechnicianLab Animal Training/Education

SpecialistLab Animal Administrative SupportComputer Science/IT SupportRegulatory Affairs Specialist

Lab Animal Lab Animal VeterinarianVeterinarian

General responsibilities:◦Develop, implement and control procedures related to acquisition, maintenance and quarantine of lab animals.

◦Provide medical care to lab animals.


General responsibilities:◦Serve as consultants and assist researchers with veterinary procedures for their studies.

◦Perform independent studies.◦Participate in product development.


Where needed:◦Academia: private and state schools◦Biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms◦Medical/Veterinary Medical schools◦Government/military agencies; e.g., NIH, CDC, USDA

◦Commercial vendors; e.g., purpose-bred animals, lab animal product suppliers


Minimum requirements:◦Graduate degree; e.g., DVM◦Veterinary experience◦AALAS certification encouraged/required

Potential Earnings:*$60,000 - $140,000+

* Salaries commensurate with education, experience and region of employment.

Lab Animal Vet TechLab Animal Vet TechGeneral responsibilities:◦Provide daily animal health evaluations.

◦Administer medications/treatments.◦Maintain animal health records.

Lab Animal Vet TechLab Animal Vet TechGeneral responsibilities:◦Serve as consultants and assist researchers and veterinarians with technical/surgical procedures.

◦Provide technical training to research and support personnel.

Lab Animal Vet TechLab Animal Vet TechWhere needed:◦Academia: private and state schools◦Biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms◦Medical/Veterinary Medical schools◦Government/military agencies; e.g., NIH, CDC, USDA


Lab Animal Vet TechLab Animal Vet Tech

Minimum requirements:◦HS diploma◦2 or 4 year college degree in some cases◦Hands-on animal experience◦AALAS certification encouraged/required

Potential Earnings: *$20,000 - $45,000+


Vivarium Vivarium Supervisor/ManagerSupervisor/ManagerGeneral responsibilities:◦Provide daily oversight of staff, operations and facility maintenance. Assure that standard operating

procedures (SOPs) are complete, current and accurate.

Ensure that occupational health and safety procedures are followed.

Vivarium Vivarium Supervisor/ManagerSupervisor/ManagerGeneral responsibilities:◦Provide daily oversight of staff,

operations and facility maintenance. Monitor vivarium and coordinate preventive

maintenance and repairs. Personnel management: e.g., hiring,

promotions, training, disciplinary actions.

◦Ensure overall compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

Vivarium Vivarium Supervisor/ManagerSupervisor/Manager



Vivarium Vivarium Supervisor/ManagerSupervisor/Manager

Minimum requirements:◦4 year college degree or experience equivalent

◦Hands-on lab animal experience◦AALAS certification required



Lab Animal Care Lab Animal Care TechnicianTechnician

General responsibilities:◦Daily observations for general health and “well-being”.

◦Maintain open lines of verbal/written communication with management, research and veterinary personnel regarding animal health and well-being.


General responsibilities:◦Provide daily nutritional provisions.◦Maintain clean and safe animal quarters and equipment.

◦Maintain animal records.


General responsibilities:◦Provide exercise and

environmental enrichment.◦Assist with technical

procedures. ◦Breeding/colony

management.





Minimum requirements:◦HS diploma preferred.◦AALAS certification encouraged/required after one year of experience.

Potential Earnings:* $18,000 - $35,000+


Vivarium Support Vivarium Support TechnicianTechnician

General responsibilities:◦Sanitize/sterilize lab animal supplies.

◦Prepare water, feed and caging for animal housing according to animal protocol requirements.

◦Maintain feed/bedding supplies and

monitor expiration dates.


General responsibilities:◦Ensure proper functioning of cage wash equipment; e.g., bulk autoclaves, rack/tunnel washers, bottle fillers, robots.

◦Provide routine maintenance on cage wash, animal housing and

transport equipment.


General responsibilities:◦Shipping/receiving of supplies and animals according to regulatory guidelines and requirements.





Minimum requirements:◦HS diploma preferred.◦AALAS certification encouraged/required after one year of experience.

◦Commercial Driver License.



More Careers in Lab Animal More Careers in Lab Animal ScienceScience

Animal Behaviorist: creates exercise and enrichment programs designed to address species-specific behavioral needs and promote psychological well-being in laboratory animals.

Environmental Enrichment Technician: provides exercise and enrichment to lab animals under the guidance of an Animal Behaviorist.

Lab Animal Training/Education Specialist: develops, implements and maintains a comprehensive training and education program to ensure that everyone working with lab animals has the required skill and understanding to do so within the regulatory guidelines.


Lab Animal Administrative Support: animal procurement, tracking and exports; materials management; fiscal management of operation; human resources; security control; generate reports for federal, state and local authorities.


Graphic Design/IT Support: web page and graphic design; develop/maintain operations management and database software; support online training and communication between researchers and lab animal care specialists.


Regulatory Affairs Specialist: experts in compliance requirements. Inform, monitor and police operations to ensure that all animal work is performed according to federal, state and local regulations/guidelines.


AALAS Training and AALAS Training and CertificationCertification

CMAR

LATGLATG

LATLAT

ALATALAT No HS/GED +2yr HS/GED +1yr

HS/GED +3yrAA/AS +2yrBA/BS +1yr



+0.5 yr

+0.5 yr

It’s not a job. It’s a It’s not a job. It’s a career!career!

DirectorDirector$100,000 - $200,000+

Lab Animal Vet$60,000 - $140,000+

Operations Manager$60,000 - $120,000+

Vivarium Manager$50,000 - $80,000+

Vivarium Supervisor$25,000 - $50,000+

Lab Animal Care Tech$18,000 - $35,000+

Vivarium Support Tech$18,000 - $35,000+

Lab Animal Vet Tech Supervisor$30,000 - $50,000+

Lab Animal Vet Tech$20,000 - $45,000+

Acknowledgements/LinksAcknowledgements/LinksContent for this presentation was contributed by:

American Association for Laboratory Animal Sciencewww.aalas.org

AALAS Foundationwww.foundation.aalas.org

California Society for Biomedical Researchwww.ca-biomed.org/csbr

States United for Biomedical Researchwww.statesforbiomed.org

Foundation for Biomedical Researchwww.fbr.org

Texas Society for Biomedical Researchwww.tsbr.org

Special thanks to: Lorraine Hough

Executive Director, Texas Society for Biomedical Research

Cindy Buckmaster, PhD, RLATG, CMAR Associate Director for Training and Operations, Center for Center for Comparative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine

Teresa Neubauer, AA, RLATG

Senior Training Specialist and Health Monitoring Surveillance Manager, Baylor College of Medicine

Photo credits: Scott Buss, Baylor College of MedicineJavier Chavez, SoBran, Inc.Texas A&M University Office of Public Affairs