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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Veterinary Research Specialist

💰 $ - $

ResearchVeterinaryAnimal SciencePreclinical Studies

🎯 Role Definition

A Veterinary Research Specialist is an experienced animal health researcher who designs, executes, and manages preclinical and clinical studies with a focus on animal welfare, regulatory compliance (GLP/GCP/IACUC), robust data management, and translational outcomes. This role blends hands‑on veterinary clinical skills, laboratory techniques (molecular assays, histology, serology), and scientific communication to drive reproducible research that supports product development, safety testing, and peer‑reviewed publications.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Research Technician or Veterinary Technician in a preclinical or clinical research setting
  • Clinical Research Coordinator or Animal Care Specialist with research exposure
  • Graduate student (MSc) or DVM entering translational research internships

Advancement To:

  • Senior Veterinary Research Specialist / Lead Scientist – Animal Models
  • Veterinary Clinical Research Manager / Principal Investigator
  • Director of Preclinical Research / Comparative Medicine

Lateral Moves:

  • Regulatory Affairs Specialist (animal health focus)
  • Quality Assurance Lead (GLP/GCP compliance)
  • Clinical Trials Project Manager (veterinary medicine)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, plan, and execute preclinical and clinical animal studies, including study hypotheses, endpoints, sample size justification, randomized allocation schemes, and blinding strategies to ensure scientifically rigorous, reproducible results that meet organizational and regulatory expectations.
  • Draft, refine, and manage study protocols, informed consent materials (where applicable), case report forms, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) while coordinating timely Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) submissions, amendments, and continuing reviews.
  • Provide clinical veterinary care for study animals, including physical examinations, anesthesia administration and monitoring, pain management, clinical scoring, and emergency interventions, ensuring humane treatment and adherence to animal welfare standards.
  • Perform invasive and non‑invasive sample collection (blood draws, biopsies, swabs, BAL, urine, feces), process and aliquot biological specimens, and maintain chain‑of‑custody, temperature‑controlled storage, and sample tracking systems to preserve sample integrity for downstream assays.
  • Execute and validate laboratory techniques central to veterinary research such as ELISA, PCR/qPCR, RT‑PCR, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, microbiological culture, serology, and basic molecular biology workflows, with meticulous documentation of methods and results.
  • Conduct necropsies and tissue collection for gross pathology and histopathology, prepare and submit tissues for fixed and frozen analysis, coordinate with veterinary pathologists, and interpret histologic findings in the context of study endpoints.
  • Oversee in‑house and contract laboratory testing, including vendor selection, assay validation, troubleshooting, and reconciliation of external data to internal records to ensure assay performance and data comparability.
  • Manage study data capture systems (electronic data capture, LIMS, REDCap or equivalent), ensure accurate, auditable records, perform data cleaning and reconciliation, and prepare datasets for statistical analysis in R, SAS, or Python as required.
  • Analyze study data using appropriate biostatistical methods, generate tables, figures, and statistical summaries, and translate results into actionable scientific conclusions to support decision making and regulatory submissions.
  • Ensure GLP/GCP and internal quality standards are met across study design, execution, and reporting; participate in internal and external audits and implement corrective and preventive actions as needed.
  • Prepare comprehensive study reports, technical summaries, and regulatory documentation, and contribute to the drafting of manuscripts, scientific posters, and oral presentations for conferences and stakeholders.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert for veterinary aspects of product development projects, providing guidance on species selection, model translatability, dosing regimens, pharmacokinetics, and safety monitoring.
  • Train, mentor, and supervise veterinary technicians, research assistants, and junior scientists on animal handling, study procedures, biosafety, and documentation best practices to maintain a high‑quality, compliant research program.
  • Coordinate cross‑functional teams including pathology, pharmacology, toxicology, formulation, quality, and regulatory to align study objectives, timelines, and deliverables and to support go/no‑go decision points.
  • Manage study budgets, procurement of specialized supplies and equipment, and inventory of biologics, reagents, and controlled substances according to institutional and legal requirements.
  • Troubleshoot experimental and clinical issues, iterate on protocols, optimize assay conditions, and implement process improvements to increase throughput, reproducibility, and data quality.
  • Implement and maintain biosafety, biosecurity, and hazardous material handling practices, including appropriate PPE, waste disposal, spill response, and training programs to protect personnel and study integrity.
  • Maintain equipment calibration, preventive maintenance schedules, and vendor service relationships for critical laboratory and clinical instruments (analyzers, autoclaves, centrifuges, anesthesia machines).
  • Support translational research initiatives by integrating clinical outcomes, biomarker discovery, and pharmacodynamic readouts to inform next‑stage product development and clinical trial design.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for external collaborators, CROs, and academic partners; negotiate scopes of work, review CRO deliverables, and ensure contractual and scientific expectations are met.
  • Ensure thorough documentation for regulatory filings and product dossiers, including comprehensive study summaries, safety narratives, and data packages suitable for submission to regulatory agencies.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad‑hoc data queries, exploratory data analysis, and visualization requests from cross‑functional teams to accelerate decision making.
  • Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of institutional data management practices, SOPs, and the overall research quality management system.
  • Coordinate animal transportation, quarantine, and acclimation processes, including veterinary health screening, vaccination, and pre‑study conditioning to reduce variability and ensure welfare.
  • Participate in grant and proposal writing, including technical justification, study design, and budget estimates to secure research funding and partnerships.
  • Engage in outreach and education by delivering seminars, training sessions, and lab safety training to internal staff, students, and external partners.
  • Assist with inventory forecasting and vendor management to maintain critical reagent and animal resource availability and minimize study disruptions.
  • Support patent preparation, intellectual property disclosure, and commercialization efforts by documenting novel methods, animal model refinements, and translational relevance.
  • Participate in institutional committees for animal welfare, research integrity, and occupational health to influence policy and maintain compliance.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Veterinary clinical skills: physical exams, anesthesia, analgesia, clinical scoring, and emergency treatment across multiple species commonly used in research (rodents, rabbits, swine, canines, felines, etc.).
  • Study design and protocol development: hypothesis formulation, endpoint selection, randomization, blinding, and power calculations for robust experimental design.
  • Regulatory and compliance expertise: IACUC submissions, GLP/GCP knowledge, USDA/AAALAC and local regulations, and experience supporting audit readiness.
  • Laboratory assays and molecular techniques: PCR/qPCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, microbiology, and basic molecular biology workflows.
  • Histopathology and necropsy skills: tissue collection, fixation, gross pathology assessment, and coordination with veterinary pathologists.
  • Data management and LIMS experience: electronic data capture (EDC), Laboratory Information Management Systems, sample tracking, and audit‑ready record keeping.
  • Biostatistics and data analysis: proficiency in R, SAS, or Python for statistical analyses, power calculations, and data visualization.
  • Quality assurance practices: SOP development, deviation handling, root cause analysis, and CAPA implementation.
  • Biosafety and biosecurity: hazardous material handling, containment practices, and occupational health protocols.
  • Technical writing and scientific communication: study reports, regulatory documents, manuscripts, and presentations tailored to scientific and non‑technical audiences.
  • Equipment operation and maintenance: anesthesia machines, ventilators, centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, and in vitro diagnostic analyzers.
  • Vendor/CRO management and outsourcing: developing scopes of work, evaluating deliverables, and ensuring data integrity from external partners.

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear documentation and effective cross‑functional collaboration.
  • Attention to detail and meticulous record keeping to ensure reproducibility and regulatory compliance.
  • Problem‑solving and critical thinking for experimental troubleshooting and optimization.
  • Project management and organizational skills to manage multiple concurrent studies and deadlines.
  • Leadership and mentorship to train and develop junior staff and to lead small research teams.
  • Ethical judgment and commitment to animal welfare and research integrity.
  • Adaptability and resilience in fast‑paced, iterative research environments.
  • Collaboration and interpersonal skills to work effectively with scientific, regulatory, and operational stakeholders.
  • Time management and prioritization to balance clinical obligations, laboratory work, and documentation demands.
  • Initiative and continuous learning mindset to keep abreast of emerging techniques and regulatory changes.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) OR MS/MSc in Animal Science, Veterinary Science, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field with significant hands‑on research experience.

Preferred Education:

  • DVM with board certification or residency training in laboratory animal medicine, comparative medicine, or a related specialty; or PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Comparative Medicine, or Infectious Disease Research.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
  • Animal Science / Comparative Medicine
  • Biomedical Sciences / Molecular Biology
  • Microbiology / Immunology
  • Epidemiology / Public Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–7 years of progressive experience in veterinary clinical research, preclinical or translational studies, or comparable laboratory environments.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of research experience with demonstrated leadership on preclinical or clinical animal studies, hands‑on laboratory assay experience, and familiarity with GLP/GCP and IACUC processes.
  • Experience managing or coordinating CROs, contributing to regulatory submissions, and authoring peer‑reviewed publications or technical study reports.
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