Veterinary Research Technician/Medical Assistant

Job Announcement: Medical Assistant / 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:

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

2. 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:

1. Work Authorization status in the U.S. (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Green Card, OPT/CPT, H-1B, etc.)
2. Whether you require visa sponsorship (now or in the future)
3. 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