1. Accept the Challenge to Care Careers in Biomedical Research

2. What is biomedical research? Biomedical researchers study ways to prevent, treat and cure diseases that cause illness and death in... People Animals

3. Who conducts biomedical research? Physicians Scientists Research Technicians Computer Scientists Engineers

4. Who conducts biomedical research? Veterinarians

5. Who conducts biomedical research? Laboratory Animal Science Technicians

6. What is laboratory animal science? Lab animal science is the area of biomedical research that specializes in the humane care and responsible use of animals for medical research, testing and teaching.

7. What are the three Rs? Replacement Reduction Refinement Provide the BEST QUALITY of life possible without compromising the integrity of the study

9. Careers in Lab Animal Science Lab Animal Veterinarian Lab Animal Veterinary Technician Vivarium Supervisor/Manager Lab Animal Care Technician Vivarium Support Technician Animal Behaviorist Environmental Enrichment Technician Lab Animal Training/Education Specialist Lab Animal Administrative Support Computer Science/IT Support Regulatory Affairs Specialist

10. Lab Animal Veterinarian General responsibilities: Develop, implement and control procedures related to acquisition, maintenance and quarantine of lab animals. Provide medical care to lab animals.

11. Lab Animal Veterinarian General responsibilities: Serve as consultants and assist researchers with veterinary procedures for their studies. Perform independent studies. Participate in product development.

12. Lab Animal Veterinarian Where needed: Academia: private and state schools Biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms Medical/Veterinary Medical schools Government/military agencies; e.g., NIH, CDC, USDA Commercial vendors; e.g., purpose-bred animals, lab animal product suppliers

13. Lab Animal Veterinarian Minimum requirements: Graduate degree; e.g., DVM Veterinary experience AALAS certification encouraged/required Potential Earnings: *$60,000 - $140,000+ * Salaries commensurate with education, experience and region of employment.

14. Lab Animal Vet Tech General responsibilities: Provide daily animal health evaluations. Administer medications/treatments. Maintain animal health records.

15. Lab Animal Vet Tech General responsibilities: Serve as consultants and assist researchers and veterinarians with technical/surgical procedures. Provide technical training to research and support personnel.

16. Lab Animal Vet Tech Where needed: Academia: private and state schools Biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms Medical/Veterinary Medical schools Government/military agencies; e.g., NIH, CDC, USDA Commercial vendors; e.g., purpose-bred animals, lab animal product suppliers

17. Lab Animal Vet Tech Minimum requirements: HS diploma 2 or 4 year college degree in some cases Hands-on animal experience AALAS certification encouraged/required Potential Earnings: *$20,000 - $45,000+ * Salaries commensurate with education, experience and region of employment.

18. Vivarium Supervisor/Manager General responsibilities: Provide daily oversight of staff, operations and facility maintenance. Assure that standard operating procedures (SOPs) are complete, current and accurate. Ensure that occupational health and safety procedures are followed.

19. Vivarium Supervisor/Manager General responsibilities: Provide daily oversight of staff, operations and facility maintenance. Monitor vivarium and coordinate preventive maintenance and repairs. Personnel management: e.g., hiring, promotions, training, disciplinary actions. Ensure overall compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

20. Vivarium Supervisor/Manager Where needed: Academia: private and state schools Biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms Medical/Veterinary Medical schools Government/military agencies; e.g., NIH, CDC, USDA Commercial vendors; e.g., purpose-bred animals, lab animal product suppliers

21. Vivarium Supervisor/Manager Minimum requirements: 4 year college degree or experience equivalent Hands-on lab animal experience AALAS certification required Potential Earnings: *$25,000 - $80,000+ * Salaries commensurate with education, experience and region of employment.

22. Lab Animal Care Technician General responsibilities: Daily observations for general health and well-being. Maintain open lines of verbal/written communication with management, research and veterinary personnel regarding animal health and well-being.

23. Lab Animal Care Technician General responsibilities: Provide daily nutritional provisions. Maintain clean and safe animal quarters and equipment. Maintain animal records.

24. Lab Animal Care Technician General responsibilities: Provide exercise and environmental enrichment. Assist with technical procedures. Breeding/colony management.

25. Lab Animal Care Technician Where needed: Academia: private and state schools Biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms Medical/Veterinary Medical schools Government/military agencies; e.g., NIH, CDC, USDA Commercial vendors; e.g., purpose-bred animals, lab animal product suppliers

26. Lab Animal Care Technician Minimum requirements: HS diploma preferred. AALAS certification encouraged/required after one year of experience. Potential Earnings: * $18,000 - $35,000+ * Salaries commensurate with education, experience and region of employment.

27. Vivarium Support Technician General responsibilities: Sanitize/sterilize lab animal supplies. Prepare water, feed and caging for animal housing according to animal protocol requirements. Maintain feed/bedding supplies and monitor expiration dates.

28. Vivarium Support Technician General responsibilities: Ensure proper functioning of cage wash equipment; e.g., bulk autoclaves, rack/tunnel washers, bottle fillers, robots. Provide routine maintenance on cage wash, animal housing and transport equipment.

29. Vivarium Support Technician General responsibilities: Shipping/receiving of supplies and animals according to regulatory guidelines and requirements.

30. Vivarium Support Technician Where needed: Academia: private and state schools Biotechnology/pharmaceutical firms Medical/Veterinary Medical schools Government/military agencies; e.g., NIH, CDC, USDA Commercial vendors; e.g., purpose-bred animals, lab animal product suppliers

31. Vivarium Support Technician Minimum requirements: HS diploma preferred. AALAS certification encouraged/required after one year of experience. Commercial Driver License. Potential Earnings: *$18,000 - $35,000+ * Salaries commensurate with education, experience and region of employment.

32. More Careers in Lab Animal Science Animal Behaviorist: creates exercise and enrichment programs designed to address species- specific behavioral needs and promote psychological well-being in laboratory animals. Environmental Enrichment Technician: provides exercise and enrichment to lab animals under the guidance of an Animal Behaviorist.

33. Lab Animal Training/Education Specialist: develops, implements and maintains a comprehensive training and education program to ensure that everyone working with lab animals has the required skill and understanding to do so within the regulatory guidelines. More Careers in Lab Animal Science

34. Lab Animal Administrative Support: animal procurement, tracking and exports; materials management; fiscal management of operation; human resources; security control; generate reports for federal, state and local authorities. More Careers in Lab Animal Science

35. Graphic Design/IT Support: web page and graphic design; develop/maintain operations management and database software; support online training and communication between researchers and lab animal care specialists. More Careers in Lab Animal Science

36. Regulatory Affairs Specialist: experts in compliance requirements. Inform, monitor and police operations to ensure that all animal work is performed according to federal, state and local regulations/guidelines. More Careers in Lab Animal Science

37. AALAS Training and Certification CMAR LATG LAT ALAT No HS/GED +2yr HS/GED +1yr HS/GED +3yr AA/AS +2yr BA/BS +1yr HS/GED +10yr AA/AS +8yr BA/BS +5yr HS/GED +5yr AA/AS +4yr BA/BS +3yr +0.5 yr

38. Its not a job. Its a career!

39. Acknowledgements/Links Content for this presentation was contributed by: American Association for Laboratory Animal Science www.aalas.org AALAS Foundation www.foundation.aalas.org California Society for Biomedical Research www.ca-biomed.org/csbr States United for Biomedical Research www.statesforbiomed.org Foundation for Biomedical Research www.fbr.org Texas Society for Biomedical Research www.tsbr.org Special thanks to: Lorraine Hough Executive Director, Texas Society for Biomedical Research Cindy Buckmaster, PhD, RLATG, CMAR Associate Director for Training and Operations, Center for Center for Comparative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine Teresa Neubauer, AA, RLATG Senior Training Specialist and Health Monitoring Surveillance Manager, Baylor College of Medicine Photo credits: Scott Buss, Baylor College of Medicine Javier Chavez, SoBran, Inc. Texas A&M University Office of Public Affairs