Veterinary Research Technician

Job Announcement: Veterinary Research Technician

Company: California Medical Innovations Institute (CalMI2)

Location: San Diego, CA

Job Type: Full-time

Pay Rate: $25.00 – $30.00 / hour (commensurate with experience)

Start Date: Immediate start available / Available to start as soon as possible

Work authorization requirements:

Applicants with CPT/OPT are welcome, and H-1B visa support is available for eligible non-U.S. candidates.

Green card (permanent residency) sponsorship may be offered after three years of employment if performance is outstanding.

How to Apply

Interested candidates please upload your resume/CV and a brief cover letter. In your application, please clearly indicate:

Work Authorization status in the U.S. (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Green Card, OPT/CPT, H-1B, etc.)

Whether you require visa sponsorship (now or in the future)

Earliest available start date

About Us

California Medical Innovations Institute (CalMI) is a non-profit medical research organization dedicated to translational research and medical device innovation across multiple biological systems, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, lymphatic, and endocrine systems. We are seeking a motivated Medical Assistant / Veterinary Research Technician to join our research team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Surgical & Interventional Procedure Support

Assist medical doctors, veterinarians, and principal investigators during acute and chronic surgical, interventional, and catheterization procedures on large and small animal models, including pigs, dogs, rabbits, rats, and mice.

Prepare operating rooms, organize surgical trays, and ensure sterile fields and appropriate instrumentation for cardiovascular, GI, lymphatic, and endocrine studies.

Assist in animal positioning, physiological monitoring (ECG, blood pressure, airway dynamics), and anesthesia logging under veterinary oversight.

2. Pre- and Post-Operative Care

Manage pre-procedure preparation, including fasting schedules, pre-medication administration, and surgical site clipping/cleansing.

Monitor animals during post-operative recovery, including vital sign tracking, pain assessment, and administration of prescribed medications/treatments.

Maintain clear and accurate surgical logs, recovery records, and medical progress notes.

3. Daily Animal Care & Husbandry

Perform daily animal husbandry, feeding, health checks, and behavioral observation for research models in compliance with facility standards.

Collect blood, tissue, and biological fluid samples following study protocols and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) principles.

Support animal acclimation, handling, and habituation to minimize stress and ensure study compliance.

4. Technical Support & Laboratory Maintenance

Maintain, clean, sterilize, and inventory surgical tools, anesthesia machines, monitoring equipment, and lab consumables.

Ensure procedure rooms and holding facilities are sanitized and prepared in accordance with institutional guidelines.

Assist with specimen processing, tissue harvesting, and preliminary lab testing/storage.

5. Compliance & Teamwork

Strictly adhere to IACUC protocols, Institutional Safety Guidelines, USDA regulations, and GLP standards.

Collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams including scientists, surgeons, veterinarians, and laboratory personnel.

Demonstrate flexibility in adopting new experimental procedures, handling various species, and fulfilling additional operational duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Animal Science, Health Sciences, or a related field.

Availability & Schedule: Available for an immediate start. Weekend and holiday work is required.

Experience: Open to recent graduates as well as experienced candidates. Prior hands-on lab or animal care experience is a plus, but comprehensive training will be provided.

Key Traits: Adaptable, eager to learn new technical skills, strong work ethic, and attention to detail.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Exposure to animal allergens and repetitive motion.

Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift up to 50 lbs individually, and team-lift up to 250 lbs.

Required immunizations/screenings based on species exposure (e.g., Tetanus, Rabies, TB, MMR, Hepatitis B).

Benefits & Growth

Comprehensive Training: Extensive hands-on professional training provided.

Benefits & Perks:

Competitive compensation

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays

Visa & Permanent Residency Support:

H-1B visa sponsorship available for qualified non-U.S. candidates.

Green Card (permanent residency) sponsorship available after 3 years of employment, contingent upon outstanding work performance.