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The University of Florida is searching for a Rodent Models Breeding Core Technician III to serve the UF animal research community. This level provides full time management of rodent breeding colonies as well as backup training and supervision of staff. This job requires routine and non-routine procedures as requested by various authorities including the immediate manager, veterinarians, research investigators, or experimental protocol. The work is performed under direct supervision. Provides technical husbandry and colony management to investigator colonies housed within the Animal Care Services Rodent Models Breeding Core used for biomedical research. This includes managing rodent colonies for principal investigators and their lab staff, tail biopsy, breeding animals using a variety of different mating schemes, weaning, shipping, weighing, rodent restraint, ear notching, ear tagging, tattooing, collecting blood and urine samples, injections, preparing special diets and medications, using and updating the breeding database, filling out various paperwork for above mentioned, and observes animals for signs of illness or injury. This position is responsible for carrying out the Animal Care Services' (ACS) directives and SOPs as governed by the Animal Welfare Act and all applicable rules and regulations. Reports any suspected or actual deviations to SOPs or non-routine situations immediately to their manager, or their designee. Uses aseptic procedures to minimize contamination as required. Ensures housing and environmental compliance with the "NIH Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals". Arrives, leaves, and takes breaks at work as scheduled. Strictly adheres to ACS attendance policy.

Responsibilities

• Fully responsible for all phases of working with and managing rodent transgenic colonies for Investigators and their staff. Plans and creates weekly technical work lists of rodent colonies managed for 1-3 Transgenic Breeding level 1 Technicians. Works closely with Transgenic Breeding level 1 Technicians to ensure accuracy, understanding, training, and timely completion of work lists. Responsible for the colony management of 150-200 different strains of mice for about 20-40 different labs. Creates and adjusts mouse colony sizes and genetics as needed to ensure research labs get their mouse models on time to complete their work and grant proposals. Responsible for creating correct mating schemes based on Punnett Squares to a variety of transgenic rodent colonies to ensure legitimacy of investigators experimental work.
• Gives guidance and advice to Investigators and their lab staff in regards to breeding techniques, procedures, and experiences in order to maximize or optimize goals. Create and solve Punnett Squares using heterozygous, homozygous, wild type, Cre, and Flox genetics. Verifies Accuracy of genotyping results from labs, recognizes errors, and immediately brings them to the attention of the Research Lab and Rodent Model Breeding Core Supervisor or Manager. Routinely interacts with Research Lab staff and Investigators to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and mouse model needs via email, phone, and in person meetings. Forecasts timelines based on the Investigators needs and when they can expect to have their experimental models ready for experiments. Provides Cost Quotes and Analysis for Investigators based on their experimental needs with assistance of the Rodent Models Breeding Colony Manager. Must carefully observe and understand animal behavior, which is colony specific and report any deviations or phenotypes to the Investigator
• Routinely meets with Rodent Breeding Colony Managers to discuss/review assigned strains of rodents. Assists with Training of Level 1 and Level 2 Rodent Models Breeding Core Technicians.
• Secondary duties may include ability to perform duties of Rodent Models Breeding Core technician levels 1 and 2 in a backup role. Responsible for oversight of Mouse Models Breeding Core Operations in the absence of the RMBC Animal Care Operations Manager
• Required to keep up to date on required training and SOP’s in Policy Manger and input their time worked using facility computers or assigned equipment during normal working hours. Ensure that Leave Request, OT, Weekend requests are submitted timely to area manager via current approved methods.
• Other duties as assigned. May operate state or special vehicle.

Minimum: High school diploma or equivalent and three years of appropriate experience; or certification as a Laboratory Animal Technician or above by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science.  Appropriate college coursework or vocational/technical training may substitute at an equivalent rate for the required experience. Maintain a valid state driver’s license.

Preferred: Prefer BS degree or higher with at least five years of appropriate experience with research animal care at a research institution or other appropriate environment. AALAS LATG certification at time of hire.