Kelly Government Solutions is a strategic supplier and business
partner to the federal government and its key suppliers. Through our
partnership with the National Institutes of Health, Kelly Government
Solutions offers administrative, IT, engineering, scientific, and
healthcare professionals the opportunity to work with the leading
medical research center in the world. We are seeking an individual to
work on-site as an Animal Biologist (Non-Human Primates (NHP)) at the
NIH Animal Center in Dickerson, MD.
This is a long-term contract position which offers:
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit package
- Optional health, vision, and dental plans
- Vacation leave as well as paid federal holidays and 401K plan.
- Access to NIH’s unparalleled resources and niche scientific initiatives
KEY TASKS
(1)
Perform daily oversight and implementation of nonhuman primate
behaviorally phenotyping for the Neurocognitive Aging Section in the
Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience
(2) Conduct studies of memory
and age-related cognitive changes in nonhuman primates; perform
neuropsychological testing of animals following temporary inactivation
of brain areas.
(3) Work with staff on the design of behavioral
testing procedures for documenting the effects of a wide range of
experimental manipulations including neurobiological manipulation,
neuropharmacological challenge, and aging.
(4) Provide behavioral
trainings of monkeys, including chair training (both pole/collar and
chain/collar methods) and hand/arm use task training.
(5) Train staff in the administration of behavioral testing procedures, proper animal handling, and surgical techniques.
(6) Provide routine support for computer-aided behavioral testing programs and equipment.
(7) Collect and process biological samples.
(8)
Arrange transportation of animal carcasses and specimens to appropriate
laboratories within NIH and prepare samples for shipment to outside
laboratories.
(9) Handle and train large animals; teach animals to
respond to a variety of different visual stimuli using operant
conditioning.
(10) Coordinate all animal procedures, including
quarterly procedures, PET scans, MRIs, and surgeries; assist with all
animal procedures and surgeries including intravenous contrast agent
fMRI experiments; provide daily meals and enrichment.
(11) Schedule
and maintain an accurate research tracking system and database for all
research activities, daily records of experiments and results, including
research documentation
(12) Analyze and evaluate preliminary
behavioral data from monkey experiments; prepare reports and contribute
to publications and presentations.
(13) Act as liaison with other
staff to ensure proper transfer of animals from housing facility to
imaging equipment and research laboratories
(14) Place orders for equipment and supplies related to animal handling and surgical procedures.
(15) Maintain laboratory areas, animal surgical areas and animal holding areas; maintain clean laboratory environment.
KEY REQUIREMENTS
(1) Minimum of high school diploma; bachelor or master’s degree in neuroscience or related discipline preferred
(2) Experience working with and handling non-human primates in a research setting.
(3)
Background in technical animal procedures preferably related to primate
behavior testing, sample collection, imaging, and analysis techniques
(4) Must have reliable transportation as NIH Animal Center is not accessible by public transportation
Salary Range: $70K - $80K plus benefits