Mount Allison acknowledges, honours, and respects that the land named Sackville, NB is part of the unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People who are the historic inhabitants, custodians, and dwellers on the land where our University is built and confirms its commitment to strengthening relationships with all Indigenous people.

Position title: Animal Laboratory Coordinator & Lab Instructor
Department: Psychology
Type: Full-time continuing 12-month position
Opportunity type: Non-academic
Classification: MASA 10
Salary range: Under review
Supervisor's title: Department Head
Posted date: September 23, 2025
Closing date: October 6, 2025

Position description

1) Animal Laboratory Coordinator (50%)

Reporting to the Department Head, the incumbent manages and performs animal care in the Small Mammal Research Laboratory (SMRL) on a day-to-day basis and plays a critical role in ensuring that the facility meets Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) requirements. The incumbent is required to sit on the University Animal Care Committee (UACC), and helps train and supervise all students, research assistants, and external users (researchers from other departments) working in the facility. The incumbent also manages space allocation in the SMRL to researchers. This lab is a biosafety level 1 lab. This position is a Monday to Friday position with the possibility of working some holidays, evenings and/or weekends.

2) Lab Instructor (50%)

With guidance from the course instructor, the lab instructor develops, prepares, supervises and grades labs for Psychology courses. At 50% allotment, the Lab Instructor is required to instruct labs in 2 courses per year (1 per semester) and these courses may change from year to year.

The Lab Instructor assists in the training and supervision of any honours and independent study students doing work with animals (usually 4-5 students per year). The time requirement for these varies depending on the type of experiment undertaken and how much experience the students have working in the research laboratory.

Position Responsibilities

1) Animal Laboratory Coordinator (50%)

• Monitor the health of all animals in the research facility and take corrective action when necessary. Examples of research paradigms include (but are not limited to):
  • rats with intracranial cannulas (post-surgical care)
  • pregnant dams (pre- and post-delivery care)
  • newborn pups
  • stress paradigms
  • rats exposed to controlled substances
  • mice with experimentally induced disease states
  • Wild-type and genetically modified mice (e.g., knockout and transgenic strains)
• Liaise with the UACC veterinarian regarding the health of all animals.
• Oversee the health monitoring program for the facility.
• Maintain correct feeding, watering, and bedding change schedules and be responsible for completing these tasks during assigned work hours.
• Ensure the RO water system is properly run and annually serviced/cleaned.
• Ensure that environmental housing parameters are achieved with regular monitoring and testing (temperature and humidity must meet CCAC guidelines in holding rooms).
• Order food, bedding and supplies as needed.
• Train new students and research assistants in handling and caring of animals and make sure they are familiar with the Standard Operating Procedures for the facility (oversees administration of quiz).
• Develop, monitor, and update the Standard Operating Procedures for the facility.
• Ensure that active protocols are available and that all protocols are updated as required.
• May be asked to pick up animals at the airport and see to their weighing, numbering, and housing.
• Euthanize animals as required and ensure proper recycling or disposal of bodies. Work with guidelines for Biohazardous waste (set up pick up with disposal company).
• Keep emergency contact information, safety procedures, and accident reports updated.
• Clean and disinfect holding rooms as required.
• Assign alarm codes to all users and oversee functioning of the alarm system. Send updated users list to Facilities Management and the security company annually. Clear codes in the system as required.
• Keep records for external users and prepare quarterly invoices when needed.
• Submit work orders to Facilities Management for general repair work as well as major work to be done in the facility.
• Act as communication link with Facilities Management for any major infrastructure work, in collaboration with the Department Head and Dean. Act as the main communication link when the work is being done (i.e., upgrades to cold room, upgrade to the HVAC system, request for more emergency power to the lab).
• Update Safety Data Sheets for materials used by departmental faculty and students and ensure that external users update the SDS for their chemicals.
• Serve as a member of the University Animal Care Committee.
• Develop, monitor, and update procedures (in conjunction with the UACC) for checking animals and responding to emergencies after hours and on weekends (i.e. develop an after hours call list to ensure someone is available to respond to an emergency).
• Act as the first contact person for after hours and weekend emergency support.
• Attend workshops, webinars, and conferences to meet the CCAC requirements.

2) Lab Instructor (50%)

• Teach laboratory sections in at least two of the psychology department lab courses per year.
• Prepare and update materials/equipment for labs, including laboratory manuals where needed.
• Track and maintain assignment and test grades.
• Mark laboratory work completed by the students and assist the professor with marking of tests and exams as required.
• Meet with students outside of scheduled laboratory times to answer queries or provide guidance as necessary.
• Order lab supplies as necessary.
• Assist with other departmental duties as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Completion of a University degree at the Bachelors or Masters (preferred) in Psychology, Biology, or other area of animal behaviour.
• A good knowledge of experimental psychology, research methods in psychology, and proficiency with relevant computer software packages including MS Office and statistical programs as required.
• Experience working with mammals in a research or educational context.
• Personnel must be willing to undertake training in the areas of animal care and workplace safety (as provided by the department and/or university).
• Able to lift 50 lbs.
• A valid driver's license is an asset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, and ability to engage effectively with a diverse team (students, staff, faculty, collaborators).
• Proactive, reliable, and able to balance independent work with timely communication to keep projects on track.
• Mature problem-solving approach and ability to prioritize tasks in a dynamic teaching and research setting.
• Valid WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) certification is an asset.

If you are interested in the challenges and opportunities that this position has to offer, please forward your application to:

Human Resources Department, Mount Allison University, 65 York St., Sackville, NB E4L 1E4
Fax: (506) 364-2385
E-mail: [email protected]
Review of applications will begin on October 6, 2025.

Mount Allison is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage applications from members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual and gender identities. We seek candidates with qualifications and knowledge to contribute specifically to the further diversification of our campus community.

At Mount Allison, we are committed to ensuring your interview experience is as comfortable and accessible as possible. If you require any accommodations or adjustments during the interview process, please do not hesitate to inform us. Your needs are important to us, and our dedicated team is here to support you.

Visit our website at www.mta.ca/employment for other employment opportunities at Mount Allison University or to register to receive e-mail notification of new opportunities.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.