CRYSTAL Q. BYRD
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia,PA
15
years of professional experience
Skilled Lab Animal Technologist with 15+ years of experience in laboratory animal husbandry, facility operations, animal health monitoring, staff training, and research support. Demonstrated leadership in delegation, weekly scheduling, facility oversight, employee training while ensuring compliance with USDA regulations. Committed to animal welfare, safety, sanitation, and effectively maintaining barrier and containment facilities.
Work History
Lab Animal Technologist
7 Years 8 Months- Provide daily husbandry care for laboratory animals, including feeding, watering, cage changing, health observation, and reporting signs of illness or distress.
- Monitor animal health, dietary habits, stool and urine changes, behavior, and other indicators requiring veterinary or management attention.
- Serve as a functional supervisor in the absence of management, helping maintain continuity of daily facility operations.
- Delegate daily tasks and assist with weekly scheduling to ensure appropriate staffing and completion of husbandry responsibilities.
- Maintain USDA-regulated, barrier, and containment animal facilities in accordance with established procedures and facility standards.
- Provide technical assistance and operational support to research staff.
- Conduct facility orientations for research personnel and assist with onboarding and training.
- Train animal technicians, students, and research staff on appropriate husbandry practices and facility procedures.
- Manage animal and cage records using the Polaris system, including cage card generation, deactivation, census scanning, animal receiving, and animal transfers.
- Documented and communicated facility maintenance issues to management for timely resolution. and required repairs to management to support safe and efficient facility operations.
- Supported sanitation verification processes to ensure compliance with health standards. and pesticide testing using CHARMS equipment.
- Maintain accurate documentation and follow established SOPs to support animal welfare, facility compliance, and research requirements.
- University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR)
Animal Care Technician
7 Years 8 Months- Provided daily husbandry care for a variety of laboratory animals in a safe, humane, sanitary, and detail-oriented manner.
- Followed established Standard Operating Procedures while adhering to applicable local, state, and federal regulations.
- Monitored animal health and behavioral changes and promptly reported illness, injury, or other concerns.
- Cleaned and sanitized animal housing and caging equipment according to facility procedures.
- Maintained accurate records of completed husbandry tasks, deceased animals, health concerns, and special animal requirements.
- Assisted with the receipt and processing of incoming animals and the preparation of outgoing animal shipments.
- Supported daily facility operations by completing assigned husbandry responsibilities accurately and efficiently.
- Worked collaboratively with animal care staff, research personnel, and management to maintain high standards of animal care and facility cleanliness.
- University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR)
Education
Associate Degree - Medical Assistant
High School Diploma
Skills
Laboratory Animal Husbandry
Staff Supervision & Leadership
Animal Health & Behavioral Monitoring
Animal Welfare & Compliance
USDA-Regulated Facilities
Barrier & Containment Facilities
Facility Operations
SOP & Regulatory Compliance
Animal Receiving & Transfers
Recordkeeping & Documentation
Research Staff Support
Facility Orientation & Training
Timeline
Lab Animal Technologist
University of Pennsylvania
02.2019 - CurrentRead More
Animal Care Technician
University of Pennsylvania
06.2011 - 02.2019Read More
GERMANTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
High School Diploma
Read More
KATHERINE GIBBS
Associate Degree from Medical Assistant
Read More