CAREERS

Laboratory Animal Veterinarian

Salary Range: $145K to $160K; Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

The Laboratory Animal Veterinarian is responsible for providing veterinary care, regulatory oversight, and institutional support in laboratory animal medicine. The veterinarian will deliver comprehensive clinical care for a variety of species, including dogs, pigs, rabbits, and nonhuman primates, while also consulting with researchers on animal models and study design. Additional responsibilities include developing and refining procedures and policies to promote high standards of animal welfare; ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines; and providing both hands-on and didactic training for research and animal care personnel. The veterinarian will serve on the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and participate in USDA inspections and AAALAC site visits. Interested candidates may also have the opportunity to serve as a study director and oversee the scientific conduct of research studies.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Hold a D.V.M. degree from a school of veterinary medicine or have equivalent training with ECFVG certification.
• Licensed to practice veterinary medicine in at least one state, with the ability to obtain Illinois license within 1 year of employment and/or June 2027.
• Must be a USDA accredited veterinarian.
• Solid understanding of the USDA Animal Welfare Regulations, the Public Health Service Policy, AAALAC (Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International) standards, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, the Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Research and Teaching, and all other pertinent regulations, laws, and guidelines, including local and state laws that regulate the use of animals in research, testing, and teaching.
• Must have experience serving on an IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee),
• Board eligible in lab animal medicine. Board certification is preferred.
• Have a strong interest in research, specifically in drug discovery or infectious disease.
• Preferred: experience in research as evidenced by a master’s degree, PhD, publication record, employment at a CRO, or experience in toxicology.
• Equivalent combinations of experience and/or skills may be considered.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

• Participate in the development and application of appropriate policies and standard operating procedures for animal use, care, and welfare.
• Collaborate with other veterinary/laboratory animal medicine staff to ensure organizational compliance with regulations concerning animal care and use.
• Interact with scientific staff concerning the design and performance of studies involving laboratory animals. Address problems and issues involving laboratory animals in studies.
• Collaborate with other scientific staff in the analysis and integration of laboratory animal data, including diagnostic pathology and clinical pathology data, into study reports. Serve as a resource for advising the investigative staff on issues such as choice of anesthetic and analgesic agents, methods of euthanasia and surgical procedures.
• Serve as a trainer for all staff members directly involved with animals to include but not be limited to regulatory issues, bio-methodologies by species and AALAS certifications.
• Serve as facility liaison for applicable outside agencies such as AAALAC International, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare.
• Supervise animal care and clinical pathology laboratory staff.
• Provide professional development opportunities for direct reports.
• Comply with security procedures in the performance of duties.
• Demonstrate attention to detail, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and efficient organizational and time management skills.
• Provide veterinary care and develop procedures and policies to address the health and welfare of a variety of species, including rodents, rabbits, dogs, minipigs, and primates.,
• Serve on the facility IACUC.
• Responsible for preparation of study and animal use protocols, supervision of technical and scientific staff involved in the studies, data interpretation for study reports, and interactions with and reporting of data to study sponsors.
• There is an opportunity to participate in research. You may serve as a large animal (dogs, primates, and minipigs) study director on preclinical toxicology, safety and efficacy studies and to work with sponsors from industry, governmental agencies such as NIH (National Institutes of Health), and from medical and veterinary schools. All research is conducted with the goal of developing treatments for  human and animal diseases.
• An individual who participates actively in research may work toward board eligibility in toxicology.
• May be required to perform other related duties as assigned.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Office and laboratory environments: sitting, standing, walking, computer work for extended periods of time.
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.
• Handling and exposure to a variety of animals.
• Laboratory environment may include, but not be limited to, exposure to chemicals, toxic fumes, hazardous  drugs, loud noises, animal bites, sharp objects.