VIV: Vivarium Worker (S9954C)
Summary
We are looking to fill several (1-2) temporary positions in our animal care facility over the Thanksgiving and winter break periods. Our facility currently houses mice, rats and zebrafish. Candidates who are a good fit for the position and do well over the breaks may continue working in the Vivarium during the academic semester, if they are interested. This would be an excellent opportunity for a student with minimal/no animal care experience, who is motivated and interested to learn animal husbandry. Availability over Thanksgiving and winter break is required.
| Dates: • Applications Due: Friday September 11th • Interviews: Week of September 14th • Hiring Decisions Released: Wednesday September 23rd • Training: Monday September 28th – Friday October 30th • Training is very flexible, and built to fit the schedule of the new staff member. Staff are trained over a multiweek period to ensure there is plenty of time to learn the material. • Thanksgiving Break: Saturday November 21st – Sunday November 29th • Finals Week: Saturday December 5th- Monday December 14th • Shifts during this week may be fill-in, to replace any semester staff that leave campus early • Winter Break: Tuesday December 15th – Tuesday January 12th • The schedule over winter break may be flexible (ex: only available for the first or last 2 weeks, etc.) Hours: |
Basics
- Department: Vivarium
- Supervisor: Jessi Kemp
- Office Location: Bonney 185
- Email: jkemp@bates.edu
- Hours: 10-12
- Workers: 1-2
Responsibilities
• Feeding, watering, changing cages and general husbandry for rats and mice • Feeding, changing tanks, maintaining and evaluating water chemistry and general husbandry for zebrafish and rotifers • Stocking supplies, and cage and supply cleaning • Working with the Vivarium Coordinator and occasionally professors to adequately address the needs to the vivarium on a case-by-case basis
Requirements
• Be working towards a college degree (preferred) • Some life science lab experience involving vertebrates (preferred) • Interest in working with animals (required) • Good communication skills (required) • Flexible availability, including: o The ability to work Thanksgiving Day (require) o The ability to work at least one additional (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day) (required) o One weekend day per week (preferred) • Candidates should be a team player, dependable, honest, have strong attention to detail (required) • Must be able to lift 50 lbs. (required) • Must have reliable transportation, and housing (required)
Reporting
Students report to the Vivarium Coordinator, and may occasionally work with research faculty. Students will work mostly independently, but periodically may coordinate with other staff to cover/swap shifts.
Working Conditions
Students will be working for several hours while standing/ making repetitive motions. There are no travel requirements. Students should be comfortable lifting ~45 lbs on occasion (~1x/week). All training regarding handling animals/providing care will be provided.