Animal Science Technician / Animal Research Technician

Location: Iowa City, IA
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent (with 90-day probationary period)
Pay Range: $22–$28/hour (DOE)
Schedule: Rotating weekends required; occasional overnight coverage; on-call animal care responsibilities
Team Size: ~5–7 person animal research team

Position Summary

We are seeking an Animal Science Technician / Animal Research Technician (entry-to-intermediate level) to support day-to-day operations in a regulated, biosecure animal research environment. This role is highly hands-on and blends animal care, technical research support, and regulated study documentation. This is not a husbandry-only position. Technicians are expected to contribute across animal care, in vivo procedures, and study support activities while working closely with study directors and veterinary staff.

Key Responsibilities

Animal Care & Husbandry

Perform daily care of research swine, including feeding, cleaning, and enrichment. Conduct routine health and welfare observations (minimum twice daily checks). Support farrowing and general reproductive care activities as needed. Maintain clean, biosecure animal housing environments. Operate within PPE requirements and controlled access facility protocols. Ensure no outside swine exposure (72-hour downtime requirement from other animal contact).

Research & Technical Support

Assist with in vivo procedures including blood draws and biological sample collection (tissue, urine, etc.), sedation and basic restraint procedures under supervision, drug dosing and pharmacology study support, catheter placement, biopsy assistance, and embryo transfer support (as trained). Support study setup and procedural execution alongside study directors. Record and maintain accurate study data and observational logs. Assist with regulated preclinical research operations as directed.

Regulatory & Documentation Compliance

Maintain compliance with USDA Animal Welfare Act regulations, AAALAC accreditation standards, and FDA/NIH research documentation expectations. Complete all required study documentation accurately and in a timely manner. Support audit readiness through proper recordkeeping and procedural adherence.

Team Environment

Work as part of a 5–7 person animal care and research team. Collaborate daily with study directors and veterinary staff. Participate in rotating weekend and holiday coverage. May include occasional overnight monitoring shifts.

Qualifications

Required: High school diploma or equivalent (minimum). Prior animal care experience (agriculture, veterinary, research, or livestock strongly preferred). Comfort working with swine or large animal species. Ability to work in a regulated, PPE-required facility. Willingness to work weekends, holidays, and occasional overnight shifts.

Preferred: Experience in research animal facilities (GLP or preclinical environment). Familiarity with blood collection, sedation, or basic veterinary procedures. Exposure to USDA/AAALAC/FDA-regulated environments. Experience working with study documentation or SOP-driven workflows.

Physical Requirements

Ability to stand, walk, and work on feet for extended periods. Lift and move equipment and animals as required. Work in biosecure environments with PPE for extended durations. Must not have exposure to outside swine populations (biosecurity requirement).

What Makes This Role Unique

This position offers a blend of hands-on animal care and applied research support, providing exposure to genetically relevant swine research models, preclinical drug development studies, surgical and procedural research support work, and regulated industry-standard research environments.

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