Category: Work Opportunity

Hours per week: 20 maximum

Hourly wage: $17.93

Location: UBC Vancouver Campus

Preferred start date: week of May 1, 2024

Employment period: early May to end Aug, 2024

Research related: Yes

Contact: wmeyers@mail.ubc.ca

Description:

The Haas Laboratory in the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health performs cutting edge research into early brain development and disorders that arise when early brain cell development goes wrong, such as epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We use a unique combination of engineering and biology to capture live, single-neuron images and videos in developing tadpole brains to observe their dynamic growth behaviours and signaling patterns. We seek 1-2 undergraduate students to join our team as project worker to assist in the maintenance and caretaking of our essential Xenopus laevis frog colony. Each week we rely on careful treatment and matings of frogs to make sure we have a steady supply of tadpoles for study. The student(s) will be responsible for several tasks associated with this, including but not limited to:

• Preparation of all media and solutions related to frog and tadpole care
• Weekly assembly of mating pairs and injection priming to ensure mating success and tadpole yield, as well as maintain the health of the colony
• Feeding of frogs and cleaning of frog tanks while minimizing stress on the colony and long-term monitoring of frog health
• Raise embryos to tadpole stage and pick healthy tadpoles for further study
• Careful and accurate written record-keeping of Xenopus health, egg quality and tank-cleaning logs

Monday, Tuesday & Friday availability are preferred, but flexible arrangements can be made. Work periods are within 8am and 4pm when other laboratory staff are present. If tasks are completed in a timely manner, the student will have the opportunity to participate in research activities of the laboratory as well, such as:

• Genetic manipulation of developing tadpoles, provoking expression of genes of interests
• Observation of effects of such expression on the early developing brain using confocal, light and cutting-edge two-photon microscopy
• Processing images obtained from studying the effects of ASD-associated genes and patient variants to obtain data used in research publications

Qualifications

The position is suitable to an undergraduate or graduate student in a UBC life science/ biology-related program with preference for students interested in animal handling and animal wellbeing. Previous experience in working in a research laboratory or animal care would be an asset but is not required. The candidate(s) ought to have a thorough work ethic, attention to detail and be comfortable with the handling of animals, specifically frogs and tadpoles, as well as needles. Mandatory laboratory safety courses will be provided and are required to be completed prior to beginning lab work.

Please provide a cover letter, your resume and course schedule (if relevant) outlining any experience. A transcript is not required, but please provide a description of any relevant work or volunteer experience and courses you have taken. Please contact our laboratory admin at wmeyers@mail.ubc.ca with these documents. Thank you.

Xenopus technician Haas Laboratory Summer 2024 Job Description

Agwest Veterinary Group Ltd. Animal Care/Herds Job Opportunity (PDF)

Agwest Veterinary Group Ltd. is hiring!  Agwest Veterinary Group is a progressive bovine veterinary practice that provides veterinary services throughout the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island. We are currently looking to fill a part-time position for an Animal Care/Herdsperson to tend the animals in the ARC (Advanced Reproductive Centre) facility. The position is a weekend position, Saturday and Sunday, with a morning and afternoon shift.

Duties:

• Responsible for the timely feeding, cleaning, and care of animals within the IVF and other reproductive programs, that creates an overall wellbeing to maintain elite standards and results.
• Responsible to bring to the attention of management any concerns of injury, sickness, or any other matter that pertains to the wellbeing of any animal within the reproductive programs.
• Assist on routine herd health matters, and introduction of new animals into the system.
• Maintenance and safe use of equipment and machinery (skid steer, blowers etc.).

Dimensions:

• Working weekends, Saturdays and Sundays with responsibilities to basic chore work for the upkeep of good livestock husbandry, plus any additional tasks that are required in the best interest of the ARC.
• Safe care and operation of any machinery to be used, after correct instruction.

Skill Requirements:

• Proven and demonstrated animal husbandry experience.
• Ability to communicate on all levels.
• Appreciates the importance of good documentation.
• Ability to work under a specified system without supervision.
• Recognized basic animal welfare with regards to sickness or injury, exercising due attention to each individual animal.
• Can observe and access animal behavior, e.g. heat detection.
• Ability to bring forward concerns in a constructive and acceptable manner.
• Ability to work inside and out in the adverse conditions normally associated with agriculture.

Compensation, depending on experience, is between $23 – 28 / hour.

If you enjoy working independently and are looking for part-time/weekend work, we invite you to apply!

Agwest and The ARC are located at: 1625 Angus Campbell Road, Abbotsford.

For more information:

• Agwest Veterinary Group: https://agwestvet.com/bovine-services/
• The ARC: https://thearcservices.com/about/arc-locations/

If you are interested, please email Teresa Born, HR Manager @ hr@agwestvet.com.

POSITION: Specialist, Wild Animal Welfare

STATUS: Full-Time, Permanent

SHIFT: 35 hours per week

CLOSING DATE:  May 8, 2023

The BC SPCA is a dynamic organization with facilities and services across the province of BC. Join an expanding team in an exciting time of change in an organization that makes a difference! Please read below for additional details and let us know if you have the skills and experience we are looking for by submitting your application.

About the Position

The Specialist, Wild Animal Welfare position has a primary focus of supporting wildlife welfare through research, communications, advocacy, and public/stakeholder relations. The role consists of: development and delivery of wild animal welfare program-related initiatives; related data collation and management, analysis and reporting; development of communications, training, and public education content; development and promotion of wild animal welfare advocacy campaigns and initiatives and related support; volunteer recruitment, training, coordination and supervision; and other committee and administrative support.

Responsibilities

Wild Animal Welfare (30%):

• Contributes to the creation and implementation of wildlife welfare initiatives based on the Society’s strategic plan and fulfilment of key performance indicators
• Tracks animals assisted through Wild ARC, Night Emergency Personnel (NEP), and Animal Centers, supporting government permit data collation and submission, and dashboard updates
• Develops and delivers advocacy campaigns through research, government relations, writing, and social media; reviews and tracks wildlife bylaws, with communications as necessary 
• Leads development of program materials and wildlife LMS courses for Wild ARC, Animal Helpline and Animal Care Services staff training, including humane pest control operations and reporting

Communications and Engagement (30%):

• Plans, develops and maintains wildlife-related content for the BC SPCA website
• Coordinates production of relevant newsletters (e.g., WildSense, Science & Policy), including contributing content, editing, and coordinating distribution
• Creates welfare content for BC SPCA external and internal publications posts (e.g. news items, social media posts, Anim@ls e-newsletter, AnimalSense, Bark!, staff bulletins, etc.)
• Represents the organization in stakeholder engagement, community outreach, relevant conferences, workshops, and government stakeholder consultations; plans internal and external meetings/conferences/symposiums as needed
• Provides training and presentations to internal and external audiences on wildlife program initiatives
• Responds to media requests, as required
• Drafts and provide content to wild animal welfare related enquiries from the public, staff and volunteers
• Coordinates provincial wildlife communications and online activities (e.g. Wildlife-in-Focus, SPCA Shop and gift catalogue, online campaigns, and e-blasts)

AnimalKind Program (20%):

• Acts as a technical resource, supporting program implementation through research, standards review, content development, process and administration review, editing, communications (social, news items, website), presentations and wildlife control audits 
• Updates existing LMS courses and develops new courses, in collaboration with the Training & Development Specialist, as needed
• Coordinates Review Panels and supports administrative duties that relate to AnimalKind

General (20%):

• Member of BC SPCA Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) and leads revision of selected wildlife-related position statements
• Member of AWC Research Subcommittee, as secretary, to support research initiatives
• Participates on other committees as needed
• In collaboration with the Volunteer Resources team, recruits and trains program volunteers
• Prepares regular progress reports on the above activities for supervisor as required
• Performs other related duties, as required

Qualifications:

• University degree in applied biology, animal welfare sciences or a related field plus a minimum of 5-8 years’ relevant experience; or a combination of education and experience acceptable to the employer. Related experience includes, but is not limited to:
  • hands-on animal welfare experience
  • liaising or working in wildlife research/management, non-profits or regulators
  • working with diverse stakeholders and different opinions
  • writing public education materials, such as web content, newsletters, training materials and social media posts
• Training in communications or media relations would be considered an asset
• Proven interest in animal welfare and understanding of BC SPCA evidence-based position statements and standards
• Superb interpersonal skills, particularly with reference to managing professional relationships
• Strong teamwork skills and work ethic 
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills 
• Excellent organizational skills coupled with the ability to multi-task and attention to detail
• Demonstrated research, report and manuscript writing skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to relate respectfully to a diverse audience
• Computer skills required for research and data management, literature review, report writing, database management, web development, email and video communications
• Demonstrated ability to work independently under minimal supervision, as well as part of a team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, planning and prioritizing a varied workload in order to meet fixed deadlines
• Ability to travel and work flexible hours (i.e. occasional evening and weekends), when required
• Access to reliable transportation for travel to events, etc.
• Relevant professional designation (e.g., RPBio, BIT) and graduate-level degree would be considered an asset

How to apply

If you are interested in joining our team and are legally entitled to work in Canada, we would like to hear from you. Click on apply now or use the link to apply https://spca.bc.ca/about-us/careers/ 

We thank you for your interest in the BC SPCA, however; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.  

Click here to see the original job posting: https://can231.dayforcehcm.com/CandidatePortal/en-US/bcspca/Posting/View/8025