Tasks & Responsibilities:
1. Provide high-level oversight of external Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and internal breeding facilities to ensure operational excellence.
2. Develop and implement optimized breeding strategies (with focus on quality, timelines and costs) to maintain genetic stability while minimizing surplus animals, aligning with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement). Serve as the primary point of contact for external vivarium managers, troubleshooting issues related to phenotype drift, or health status etc.
3. Act as internal expert for the generation of new mouse lines using cutting-edge techniques.
4. Define and standardize the official nomenclature for all newly generated lines in accordance with MGI (Mouse Genome Informatics) and International Committee guidelines.
5. Maintain meticulous records of genotypes and molecular validation data (e.g., NGS, Southern Blot, qPCR).
6. Monitor the health and welfare of experimental cohorts, defining humane endpoints and overseeing the assessment of unexpected phenotypes in new transgenic lines.
7. Develop and implement standards in housing and care of contract bred animals at external partners.
8. Collaborate with therapeutic area experts to provide initial phenotypic characterization and validation of model utility.
Must Haves:
9. PhD in Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, or a related field
10. Minimum 3+ years of hands-on experience in mouse genetics and colony management
11. Proven track record of generating mouse models
12. Strong project management skills; ability to manage multiple external vendor Relationships
13. Regulatory: Familiarity with FELASA guidelines and animal welfare legislation
14. Fluent written and verbal communications skills in English, German nice to have