Animal Care Intern

Summary

Join our Animal Care Team at Neuralink to provide care for animals in husbandry, enrichment, veterinary medicine, and behavioral health/training. As an Animal Care Specialist, you will create and implement refinements to ensure animal welfare while furthering Neuralink's mission.

Requirements

• Experience training animals using force-free techniques
• Comfortable with exposure to animal bodily fluids, including blood
• No specific degree or current student status required; relevant experience and skills are prioritized

Responsibilities

• Perform animal husbandry including but not limited to enclosure cleaning, feeding, watering, health observations, and documentation of husbandry procedures
• Help create and implement behavior intervention plans for animals using Behavior Analysis techniques, and maintain behavioral data records
• Assist in animal training for a wide range of voluntary husbandry, research, and co-operative care behaviors using methodology based in Positive Reinforcement Training
• Conduct behavior scans to monitor animal behavior and social housing dynamics
• Help design and implement innovative enrichment devices for animals that enhance cognitive stimulation through various means, including food, exercise, and socialization
• Assist in development and implementation of novel refinements that promote animal agency and joy to optimize welfare
• Assist in collecting and analyzing data for refinement projects to be presented at animal welfare conferences
• Follow standard operating procedures to ensure optimal safety of both animals and personnel
• Adhere to federal, state and local laws

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a lab animal research environment or other related animal training/ ABA experience
• Experience working closely with non-human primates, swine, or sheep
• Ability to travel to/from and work at Austin, TX facility 1-2 times for coverage purposes as needed
• Proficient in statistical analysis

Benefits

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan
• Paid holidays
• Commuter benefits
• Meals provided
• Equity + 401(k) plan *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
• Parental leave *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
• Flexible time off *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded