Animal Behavior Technician I

The Behavioral Technician I supports AbbVie’s Behavioral Management program (BMT). This role is responsible for operant conditioning, enrichment, behavioral monitoring, and positive reinforcement for research animals. Provides direction and support to Animal Care Technicians and other AbbVie employees who perform animal husbandry in accordance with the company animal enrichment program. Elevates any concerns or inconsistencies with animal behavior and the enrichment program to the appropriate authority (manager) for action.

Responsibilities

• Assist with performing positive reinforcement training of animals. Communicates skills and enrichment program requirements amongst research groups and Comparative Medicine staff. These include but are not limited to those for behavior related tasks, enrichment, socialization, operant conditioning, chair training, pole and collar training, target training.
• Assist with training of staff on standardization and continued productivity as related to operant conditioning and enrichment related strategies.
• Enables higher performance by building and maintaining strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of team.

• Identifies potential improvements to the program; remains flexible, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement on enrichment and operant conditioning related strategies. Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and assists with the progression of innovation to reality.

• Assists with daily tasks associated with animal enrichment animal enrichment, such as scheduling, prep, distribution to animals, evaluation of effectiveness, and enrichment area/supply maintenance.

• Assists with entry and upkeep of behavioral, training and enrichment forms/database(s); Maintains documentation of all animal trainings (timelines, progress, comments, concerns, etc.)

• Works with moderate work direction, remains flexible, performs multiple projects simultaneously, meets deadlines, and maintains sanitation standards.

• Assists with incorporating the 3R’s into the Behavioral Management program

• Attends applicable training and workshops pertaining to lab animal enrichment/behavior; participates in on-site enrichment trainings and committees where required.

• Provides animal husbandry duties as required; Required weekend husbandry (or animal enrichment/ operant conditioning) rotation commitment