Careers

Animal Research Scientist

Position Summary:

The Animal Research Scientist is responsible for directing and managing clinical research studies as investigator/study director, leading communications between RTI clinical research clients and RTI staff regarding clinical study work, and writing protocols and reports as necessary in support of clinical research studies. Animal Research Scientists are also responsible for performing and coordinating study events and reviewing and approving study documentation as necessary throughout the study. This position must also maintain familiarity with all regulations connected to ongoing clinical studies, and monitor compliance to these regulations and to protocols and RTI SOPs wherever they apply.

Essential Job Functions:

• Direct and conduct clinical research studies as Principal Investigator/Study Director.
• Interface between RTI personnel and study sponsors regarding animal health and study progress in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Communicate with RTI staff to ensure clinical study schedules are recognized and met.
• Coordinate with Quality Assurance to verify that all study events are accounted for, carried out, and documented according to study protocol, existing amendments, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure that documentation and study procedures are faithful to study protocols, amendments, RTI SOPs, and other applicable standards by assigning tasks to appropriately trained personnel.
• Assist with study events and lead, train, and direct RTI staff as needed to ensure clinical study events exceed sponsor expectations and result in the highest possible data quality and study outcome.
• Institute and maintain blinding as specified in the protocol.
• Collaborate on protocol/study design; draft amendments, deviations, notes-to-file, and adverse events where applicable; prepare unbiased and polished final reports drawn from study findings; approve the final study book; and, where applicable, publish research related to RTI studies.
• Maintain training records, review and participate in SOP revisions, perform literature evaluations, and oversee data collection and management activities as needed.
• Understand GCP/GDocP/GLP regulations, the Ag Guide, and IACUC provisions, and have the ability to review and understand additional regulatory requirements as they apply to upcoming and ongoing clinical studies.
• Assist the IACUC coordinator with preparation of IACUC documentation and animal welfare requirements.
• Attend all required RTI safety, quality, departmental, and other meetings.
• Perform work safely and in compliance with RTI safety SOPs, report incidents and near misses, and assist with maintaining safe work sites and work environments for all RTI staff.
• Maintain total confidentiality of RTI activities and intellectual property, including but not limited to sponsor/client identities, sponsor/client protocols, and study data/results.

Education and/or Experience:

• Experience working with livestock in a research setting, knowledge of vaccine production processes, and experience with vaccine related regulatory processes required.
• Substantial experience with poultry and/or swine strongly preferred.
• Graduate degree in animal sciences, veterinary medicine or equivalent preferred.
• Knowledge of basic computer operation and efficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Clinical Research Associate

Position Summary:

The Research Associate I is responsible for assisting and conducting various events and activities on RTI studies, which may include animal husbandry, chores, and other research interventions with animals as driven by study protocols.  In addition, the Research Associate I will be well-read with protocols, RTI SOPs, business practices, and relevant regulatory requirements that govern how work is conducted. The Research Associate I must work in a teamwork setting and have behavioral attributes that productively contribute to team-driven outcomes, however is independently capable and competent in performing record keeping, study setup, facility cleaning and disinfection, data entry and compilation, review of clinical records, and other tasks associated with studies. 

Primary Job Functions:

• Assist investigators as a lead study team member with planning and carrying out research studies.
• Communicate frequently and with diligence on all pertinent workforce items to ensure efficient and effective teamwork and transparent awareness of activities.
• Lead the organization and setup of equipment for daily animal work (including cleaning and disinfecting).
• Understand, adhere and enforce all biosecurity practices leading to quality environmental swabbing checks and clean studies.
• Perform chores, monitoring, feeding and watering of animals.
• Perform animal processing, sample collections, and animal handling tasks.
• Lead the set-up of site study books, order and organize supplies for study activities.
• Document and teach work accurately and to QA standards, appropriately and make timely corrections to errors.  Perform internal review of clinical data.
• Ensure training records are current, review SOPs and identify gaps, lead SOP revisions and writing of new SOPs.
• Lead sourcing of animal procurement, screening and animal arrival.
• Multittask, volunteer and assist with other multiple studies and associated events as necessary.
• Attend all required RTI safety, quality, departmental, and other meetings.
• Perform work safely and in compliance with RTI safety SOPs, report incidents and near misses, and assist with maintaining safe work sites and work environments for all RTI staff.
• Maintain total confidentiality of RTI activities and intellectual property, including but not limited to sponsor/client identities, sponsor/client protocols, and study data/results.

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or general education degree required.
• Undergraduate degree in animal sciences, biology or related/equivalent preferred.
• Experience working with livestock, companion animals or general farm background preferred.
• Proficient in basic computer operations and competent with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Part-Time Animal Caretaker

Position Summary:

The Research Technician is responsible for assisting and conducting various events and activities on RTI studies, which may include animal husbandry, chores, and other research interventions with animals as driven by study protocols.  In addition, the Research Technician will be well-read with protocols, RTI SOPs, business practices, and relevant regulatory requirements that govern how work is conducted. The Research Technician must work in a teamwork setting and have behavioral attributes that productively contribute to team-driven outcomes, however is independently capable and competent in performing record keeping, study setup, facility cleaning and disinfection, modest data entry and compilation, organization of clinical and study records, and other tasks associated with studies.    

Primary Job Functions:

• Assist investigators as study team member with planning and carrying out research studies.
• Communicate frequently and with diligence on all pertinent workforce items to ensure efficient and effective teamwork and transparent awareness of activities.
• Understand, adhere and enforce all biosecurity practices leading to quality environmental swabbing checks and clean studies.
• Organize/set-up equipment for daily animal work (including cleaning and disinfecting).
• Perform chores, monitoring, feeding and watering of animals.
• Perform animal processing, sample collections, and animal handling tasks.
• Set up site study books, order and organize supplies for study activities.
• Document work accurately and to QA standards, appropriately and make timely corrections to errors.  Perform internal review of clinical data.
• Maintain training records, review SOPs, assist with SOP revisions, and assist in writing of new SOPs.
• Assist with animal procurement and animal arrival.
• Attend all RTI staff, safety, quality, and clinical meetings as warranted.
• Attend all required RTI safety, quality, departmental, and other meetings.
• Perform work safely and in compliance with RTI safety SOPs, report incidents and near misses, and assist with maintaining safe work sites and work environments for all RTI staff.
• Maintain total confidentiality of RTI activities and intellectual property, including but not limited to sponsor/client identities, sponsor/client protocols, and study data/results.

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or general education degree required.
• Undergraduate degree in animal sciences, biology or related/equivalent preferred.
• Experience working with livestock, companion animals or general farm background preferred.
• Proficient in basic computer operations and competent with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Research Veterinarian

Position Summary:

The Research Veterinarian is responsible for managing preclinical research studies as principal investigator (PI) or study director (SD, leading communications between RTI preclinical research clients and RTI staff regarding preclinical study work, and writing protocols and reports as necessary in support of preclinical research studies. The Research Veterinarian is also responsible for monitoring animal health status, performing and coordinating study events, and reviewing and approving study documentation as necessary throughout the study. This position must be familiar with all regulations associated with preclinical studies conducted at RTI and maintain compliance with regulations, protocols, and RTI SOPs for their applicable studies.

PrimaryJob Functions:

• Run preclinical research studies as principal investigator/study director.
• Knowledge of GCP and/or GLP regulations, the Ag Guide, IACUC regulations, and the ability to review and understand other regulatory requirements that apply to clinical studies.
• Knowledge of study protocols and monitoring of assigned studies for compliance to study protocols, relevant regulations, and RTI SOPs.
• Use of medical knowledge to practice preventive and diagnostic medicine while performing procedures and advising RTI clinical staff on treatments for study animals.
• Monitoring animal health status throughout studies, administration of vaccines, performance of clinical observations, and management of other clinical study events as necessary.
• Communication with study sponsors and/or monitors regarding animal health and study updates as necessary throughout preclinical studies. Communication with RTI staff to ensure clinical study schedules are known and met.
• Writing protocols, reviewing and approving study documentation, and writing investigator reports.
• Leading, training, and directing RTI staff as needed to ensure clinical study events meet the sponsor’s expectation and result in the highest quality data possible.
• Assisting with budgeting and expense control.
• Assisting the IACUC coordinator with preparation of IACUC documentation.
• Maintain training record, review SOPs revisions, assist with SOP reviews, literature reviews and data management.
• Attend RTI safety, quality, and clinical meetings.
• Perform work safely and in compliance with RTI safety SOPs, report incidents and near misses and assist with maintaining safe work sites and work environments for all RTI staff.
• Maintain total confidentiality with all RTI activities including, but not limited to, sponsor/client identities, sponsor/client protocols, data, and results, and with all RTI intellectual property.

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or general education degree required.
• Veterinary degree required.
• Significant experience working with livestock, particularly with poultry and/or swine, strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of basic computer operation and efficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Clinical Research Technician (Full- or Part-Time)

Position Summary:

The Clinical Research Technician is responsible for performing animal husbandry, chores, and other research study tasks in an efficient and safe manner.  The Clinical Research Technician maintains familiarity with protocols, RTI SOPs, and relevant regulatory requirements that govern how work is conducted. This position performs record keeping and will assist with study setup, facility disinfection, the compilation of data for studies, and other work as assigned.

Primary Job Functions:

• Organize/set-up equipment for daily animal work (including cleaning and disinfecting).
• Perform chores and feed and watering of animals.
• Perform animal processing/sample collection/animal handling,, as necessary.
• Assist with organization of supplies for study work.
• Document work accurately, appropriately and make timely corrections to errors.
• Maintain training record, review SOPs, assist with SOP revisions, and assist in writing of new SOPs.
• Assist with animal arrival.
• Attend RTI staff, safety, quality, and clinical meetings.
• Assist with the completion of other study events as necessary.
• Perform work safely and in compliance with RTI safety SOPs, report incidents and near misses and assist with maintaining safe work sites and work environments for all RTI staff.
• Maintain total confidentiality with all RTI activities including, but not limited to, sponsor/client identities, sponsor/client protocols, data, and results, and with all RTI intellectual property.

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or general education degree required.
• Experience working with livestock or general farm background preferred.
• Knowledge of basic computer operation and efficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.