The Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Department of Biology is seeking to hire an Aquatic Animal Facility Assistant who will ensure technical and aquatic animal husbandry services at the JHU Department of Biology and Carnegie Institute of Embryology (EMB). Primary responsibilities include the provision of animal husbandry to aquatic species (zebrafish) that may be utilized in biomedical research, welfare, and technical assistance in support of research initiatives. The Aquatic Animal Facility Assistant works independently in tasks that are routinely performed, performs sanitation, husbandry and support functions, and conducts work in accordance with several policies including the JHU and EMB Animal Care and Use Committee policies, and the standard operating procedures for the animal facility.

The position requires working Tuesday-Saturday, working holidays and responding to alarms outside of routine work hours on a rotating basis. 

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Provision of animal husbandry to aquatic species (zebrafish) and husbandry room activities.
• Provide animal care and husbandry services, including but not limited to,
• Observe and report any abnormalities in animals, equipment, or facilities to the Lead Aquatics Manager, investigators, or building managers.
• Identify and report potential problem areas with personnel, equipment, or facilities.
• Perform husbandry and environmental monitoring in accordance with established SOPs.
• Ensure that procedures and practices involving the program of animal care are followed.
• Assist, when requested, in experimental planning and logistics and scheduling of projects (such as zebrafish sperm freezing, gate pulling, breeding programs).
• Participate in an ongoing employee training program.
• Perform job tasks and duties in compliance with facility policies and regulations.
• Adhere to equipment sanitation and sterilization schedules.
• Ensure that records, logbooks, databases, and other project records are appropriately maintained.
• Recommend changes in operational procedures that might increase the efficiency or effectiveness of work procedures or practices.
• Responsible for completing assigned duties according to established procedures, guidelines, and instructions.
• The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal skills and demonstrate the ability to interact with multiple lead investigators depending on the research animal area
• Recognize animal illness, abnormal water chemistry values, and abnormal behaviors of animals, correctly notifying the responsible personnel immediately.
• Adhere to established SOPs.
• Assist in the receipt of animals, supplies, and feed.
• Assure accurate reporting and maintenance of routinely used items.
• Support and comply with quality control/quality assurance and training programs.
• Maintain a current knowledge of existing and proposed laws, regulations, and guidelines affecting the care and use of the animal.
• Effectively communicate in English (both oral and written form) and demonstrate use of good leadership, team building, and management skills.
• Technical service to include maintaining all aquatic support equipment, breeding schedules, stock/strain breeding, setup of fish breeding tanks for investigator use, and maintaining all aquatic facilities.
• Change aquatic holding tanks as per SOP to maintain appropriate water quality and provide visibility of animals for daily observations.
• Deliver dirty tanks to designated facilities, run cage wash as needed and return clean items to proper location.
• Applies aquatic terminology in all methods of communication.
• Safely and correctly handles and restrains animals for observation or minor procedures.
• Applies knowledge of basic aquatic water chemistry and monitors water quality weekly.
• Assists in coordinating the use of all aquatic procedure areas.
• Keeping areas stocked with supplies, (e.g., crossing tanks, nets, screens, etc.).
• Applies knowledge of similarities and differences of types of aquatic holding systems.
• Inventories supplies on a daily basis and follows proper ordering procedures for restocking supplies.
• Participate in weekly and monthly facility meetings and report to Lead Aquatics Manager.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• The successful candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Must have the basic knowledge of computer software as in word and excel.
• Must be reliable in attendance to ensure animals receive the appropriate level of care.
• Work with husbandry staff in feeding and daily maintenance protocols for consistency in care.
• Routine work hours are between 8am-4pm hours are dictated by the institutional research schedule, weekend, and holiday work to be scheduled on a rotating basis.
• Requires responding to facility aquaria alarms outside of routine work hours.
• Employees may be required to work outside performing tasks associated with picking up and delivering animals, supplies and small equipment; transporting waste and recyclables; moving equipment into and out of remote storage locations; traveling from one facility to another; and climbing ladders.

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent. Associate's degree in Veterinary Technology, Animal Science or Biology preferred.
• One year of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• High School degree or equivalent.
• One (1) year of laboratory animal care or related experience.
• Able to perform routine work independently.
• Basic aquatics knowledge.
• Lifting/moving requirements - up to 50 pounds.
• Work with undergrad work study students on their weekend workday.

• Must be able to push, pull, climb, stoop, kneel, bend, reach, walk, sit, and stand for prolonged periods.
• Animal care and technical duties will be performed indoors in an animal care vivarium and a laboratory facility.
• Laboratory environments and/or animal care work areas may be prone to hot and humid conditions, and subject to objectionable odors, aerosols, dust, and noise.

Classified Title: Veterinary Technician 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Aquatic Animal Facility Assistant   
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/02/CC  
Starting Salary Range: $15.70 - $26.25 HRLY (Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday- Sunday, 8 am - 5 pm, 5 days a week, but may work weekends 
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: Homewood Campus 
Department name: ???????Biology  
Personnel area: School of Arts & Sciences 

About Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University remains committed to its founding principle, that education for all students should be grounded in exploration and discovery. Hopkins students are challenged not just to learn but also to advance learning itself. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and entrepreneurship are all encouraged and nourished in this unique educational environment. After more than 130 years, Johns Hopkins remains a world leader in both teaching and research. Faculty members and their research colleagues at the university's Applied Physics Laboratory have each year since 1979 won Johns Hopkins more federal research and development funding than any other university. The university has nine academic divisions and campuses throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Education and the Carey Business School are based at the Homewood campus in northern Baltimore. The schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing share a campus in east Baltimore with The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Peabody Institute, a leading professional school of music, is located on Mount Vernon Place in downtown Bal...timore. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is located in Washington's Dupont Circle area.

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