Zebrafish Attending Veterinarian

The McConnell Group, www.themccgroup.com, a health science company, has an opening for a Zebrafish Attending Veterinarian to provide veterinary support services for a Zebrafish vivarium core facility at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System Research Department in Temple, Texas.

This position will provide professional veterinary oversight for zebrafish used in VA research programs. The veterinarian will support animal health, humane care, husbandry oversight, regulatory compliance, IACUC activities, accreditation readiness, and investigator training. The role requires a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with experience in Zebrafish-related laboratory animal science and medicine.

The Zebrafish vivarium supports research involving larval and adult zebrafish as a model organism in pharmacogenetics, neuropharmacology, brain function, dysfunction, and genetic and pharmacological modulation. The Attending Veterinarian will help ensure zebrafish housing, husbandry, health monitoring, anesthesia/euthanasia methods, water quality management, quarantine/sentinel programs, and clinical response practices align with applicable VA, federal, institutional, OLAW, AAALAC, and IACUC standards.

Position Responsibilities

• Serve as the Attending Veterinarian for the CTVHCS zebrafish vivarium and, in that capacity, serve as a member of the IACUC.
• Provide veterinary pre-reviews of Animal Component of Research Animal Use Protocols and related animal-use protocols.
• Perform semi-annual program and facility reviews/inspections every six months.
• Meet with the Institutional Official on a semi-annual basis to review program and facility review/inspection findings.
• Assist with the review, development, and implementation of IACUC and husbandry standard operating procedures, policies, and procedures.
• Assist the IACUC Coordinator with annual reporting submissions to USDA, OLAW, AAALAC International, VA Central Office, and other required oversight bodies, as applicable.
• Assist with updates and submissions related to the OLAW Letter of Assurance and AAALAC International accreditation documentation.
• Provide advice and guidance on all aspects of an AAALAC International Animal Care and Use Program.
• Review and advise on CTVHCS zebrafish colony health reports.
• Provide veterinary oversight related to zebrafish husbandry, water quality management, quarantine/sentinel programs, anesthesia, euthanasia, and clinical response to illness or distress.
• Conduct meetings and/or training sessions with VA investigators on topics determined by the IACUC and/or VA administration.
• Remain available by phone or email to address administrative, animal health, compliance, or programmatic issues requiring veterinary input.
• Perform all work in accordance with applicable VA, federal, institutional, IACUC, OLAW, AAALAC, and contract requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned and consistent with the contract scope.

Work Schedule / Hours of Operation

Normal hours of coverage are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time, excluding federal holidays. 

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an AVMA-accredited veterinary program.
• Licensed to practice veterinary medicine in at least one state within the United States.
• Experience in zebrafish-related laboratory animal science and medicine required.
• Experience serving as an Attending Veterinarian, IACUC member, or veterinary advisor in a research animal program strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of VA animal research requirements, VHA Directive 1200.07, OLAW expectations, AAALAC accreditation standards, and IACUC program requirements preferred.
• Experience with zebrafish husbandry, colony health monitoring, water quality management, quarantine/sentinel programs, anesthesia, euthanasia, and clinical response standards preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to review animal-use protocols and provide clear veterinary guidance to investigators, IACUC leadership, and institutional officials.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong documentation, compliance, and program-review skills.