Primate Trainer and Enrichment Role - Johns Hopkins University
Lydia Hopper
The Research Technologist is responsible for overseeing and conducting positive reinforcement training, socialization, and enrichment provision with socially housed rhesus macaques and pigtail macaques at the Johns Hopkins University Breeding Facility. The Research Technologist may also be required to conduct in vivo sampling program for macaques on research study. In this role, the Research Technician supports the work of the Johns Hopkins University Retrovirus Lab and the behavioral management program of Research Animal Resources.
If you have any questions about this role, please email Dr. Lydia Hopper at lhop...@jhmi.edu
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Implements and evaluates environmental enrichment, social housing, and positive reinforcement training strategies with nonhuman primates.
Assists with evaluating efficacy of enrichment for a variety of laboratory housed animals.
Responsible for conducting positive reinforcement training of nonhuman primates for cooperation with common experimental and veterinary manipulations and procedures.
Designs training plans and documents training progress and effectively communicates shaping plans, animal progress, and program goals to faculty and staff as needed.
Coordinates with veterinarians, behaviorists, and animal care staff to plan and implement training and sampling schedules for macaques on study.
Responsible for collecting in vivo samples from macaques under sedation and voluntarily from trained animals without sedation.
Process, store and log in vivo samples after procurement, as needed.
Under the supervision of faculty, organize, analyze and present data from behavior research projects.
Communicate, understand and relay relevant research, behavioral and veterinary medical terminology.
Review and/or generate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as requested.
Monitors psychological well-being of macaques and report any concerns to behavioral and veterinary specialists.
Maintains accurate and complete documentation of data collection, providing regular reports of study progress to the Director of Behavioral Management and other faculty and staff as required.
Maintains research equipment and initiates the process for equipment repair when needed.
Demonstrates professional communication and interpersonal skills.
Informs faculty and staff in a timely and professional manner when problems arise with research plans or deadlines to determine solutions.
Manages multiple projects simultaneously.
Maintains regulatory documents according to internal SOPs.
Provides miscellaneous administrative support as required.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor's degree (additional education may substitute for experience to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula).
At least one (1) year of related experience working with nonhuman primates in a captive setting.
Working knowledge of positive reinforcement training principals and techniques
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Experience training animals via positive reinforcement training is preferred.
Demonstrated knowledge of nonhuman primate behavior and social systems.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is essential.
Strong interpersonal skills, including both written and oral communication
Good organizational and time management skills
The ability to work independently and reliably with minimal supervision