Research Technician - Animal Behaviour Training & Care

Job Title

Research Technician - Animal Behaviour Training & Care

Job Category

Non Union Technicians and Research Assistants

Job Profile

Non Union Salaried - Research Assistant /Technician 3

Job Family Group

Staff - Non Union

Department

Kwon Pre-clinical Group | International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries | Faculty of Medicine

Compensation Range

$4,845.17 - $5,713.66 CAD Monthly

Job End Date

January 14, 2028

Posting End Date

November 14, 2026

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

 

 

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. 

Job Description Summary
This position supports research on spinal cord function using a large animal (Swine) model. Main duties include daily animal training and care, as well as supporting experimental procedures in a research setting.

The position has a primary focus on behavioural training of research animals, coordinating their care with the animal care facility to ensure research goals and animal welfare standards are met.

Work duties will be carried out predominantly at UBC's Animal Care Services facility, but participation in regular lab meetings at the main lab near VGH is expected. The work environment is technically complex with the use of veterinary vitals monitors, diagnostic equipment, imaging devices and other specialized research equipment.

This position is a grant-funded position and is available beginning Jan 15, 2027, for 1 year initially, with the possibility of an extension.

Organizational Status
ICORD is a world-leading health research centre focused on spinal cord injury. Located at Vancouver General Hospital in the Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, ICORD is supported by UBC Faculties of Medicine and Science, and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute. More details are available at www.icord.org. The Kwon Laboratory at ICORD specializes in translational research related to SCI, with both clinical and preclinical projects. For additional information, visit www.kwonlab.ca.

As part of the research team, the Research Technician reports to the Research Associate and Principal Investigator of the research group, but receives daily instructions from senior staff for specific tasks. They work closely with other staff and graduate students in the lab and may also collaborate with researchers and their teams from other ICORD labs and other national and international teams on collaborative projects. The position involves close collaboration with Animal Care Technicians and Clinical Veterinarians at the UBC Animal Care Services facility.

Work Performed
Animal Behaviour Training and Preparation – Primary Duties

• Assists with the arrival of animals and their acclimation to the facility environment.
• Supports the development and implementation of individualized animal training plans to execute behavioural tasks, using target and clicker training and positive reinforcement.
• Maintains communication with research staff, animal care personnel, and facility veterinarians on animal research and care activities.

Perioperative Care, Veterinary, and Imaging Support

• Assists with postoperative care support according to the approved animal care protocols of the research group and reports findings to senior research personnel.
• Conducts daily health inspections, watching out for unusual or unexpected conditions that arise in the research animals over the course of the research study
• Assists with the administration of medications or other substances by injection, orally, or topically.
• Assists with the collection of bio-samples for diagnostic evaluations and research analysis.
• Creates medical entries in health records and maintains research lab logs.
• Prepares surgical rooms, including preparing instruments, equipment and supplies used for surgeries and study procedures.
• Assists with technical procedures involving the use of scientific devices such as, but not limited to, intraspinal pressure, blood flow and oxygenation sensors, urodynamics equipment, and neurostimulation devices.

Documentation and Research Support

• Assists with the collection of animal health and project data pertaining to research studies.
• Updates SOPs relating to established animal and technical procedures for review and approval by senior research staff.
• Documents animal care procedures and study activities in relevant logbooks and digital data bases.
• Assists with animal ethics documentation, animal use records and reporting as required.
• Ensures the training and lab spaces are kept clean, tidy, and well supplied to perform all research procedures.
• Performs other duties from time to time as required.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The technician exercises sound judgment and responsibility in planning and carrying out assigned animal behavioural training, research preparation and perioperative care, in accordance with established protocols.

Errors or inappropriate judgment could compromise animal welfare, disrupt research studies, result in additional cost and delays, or adversely affect animal health, including mortality.

The technician must recognize and promptly report animal welfare concerns and seek veterinary or supervisory guidance when circumstances fall outside established protocols. Failure to follow approved animal care protocols and institutional requirements could jeopardize research approvals, funding, and the University’s ability to conduct animal research.

Supervision Received
The Research Technician reports to the Research Associate and Principal Investigator of the research group and works under general supervision, planning and scheduling assigned activities. For specific research activities conducted at the Animal Care Services facility, the technician receives day-to-day guidance from senior staff, animal care technicians, and clinical veterinarians. Work may be checked weekly or infrequently by the supervisor.

Supervision Given
This position does not supervise other staff, but may provide training to undergraduate students on animal handling techniques and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications
Completion of a relevant technical program or a university degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) designation and RLAT (or RLATR) CALAS certification are assets.
• Experience with laboratory animal care, particularly swine or other large animal species, and a good understanding of ethical issues and animal welfare in a research environment is an asset.
• Knowledge of CFIA quarantine guidelines is an asset.
• Experience with animal behaviour training techniques, including positive reinforcement training, target and clicker training techniques, is strongly preferred.Skills / Abilities
• Ability to perform the physical demands of the job including: working in humid environments with varying temperatures; and continuous exposure to animal dander, odours, excreta, dust, and noise while following established safety procedures and using required personal protective equipment.
• Must be able to operate job-related equipment following appropriate training and established procedures (e.g., anesthetic machines, cautery machines, anesthetic monitoring equipment, pulse oximeter, Doppler, IV fluid pumps, syringe pumps, EtCO2 monitor, ventilator, imaging modalities, autoclaves, etc.).
• Ability to handle research animals safely and confidently and to work with laboratory reagents, research compounds, and chemicals in accordance with established protocols and safety requirements
• Ability to lift up to 40 kg several times throughout the day and stand for long periods of time; work in an environment that requires continuous bending, stooping, twisting and turning; perform repetitive tasks; demonstrate good manual dexterity, mobility, auditory, olfactory, and visual skills.
• Manual dexterity, mobility, and visual, auditory, and olfactory abilities sufficient to perform research procedures, handle animals, and operate equipment safely and accurately.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, evenings and statutory holidays when required.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and independently in a team environment. Strong organizational and record-keeping skills are required. Effective oral and written communication, interpersonal and organizational skills, and attention to detail are required.
• Ability to effectively use software at an advanced level (e.g., Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel and database management systems).
• Ability to exercise tact and discretion is required.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative and productive working relationships with diverse groups of individuals.
• Ability to prioritize multiple concurrent research projects, tasks, and deadlines, while adapting to changing priorities in a fast-paced research environment.
• Ability to identify, analyze, and resolve problems using sound judgment and critical thinking.