Jennifer A. Nelson

**** ********* ***** ***. *** 810-***-****

Grand Blanc, MI 48439 abk4oo@r.postjobfree.com

September 15, 2010

To Whom It May Concern:

My work and volunteer experiences over the past fifteen years include a variety of settings in which I

have collected and maintained a number of skill sets. I am currently an animal lab technician at the

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the Unit for Lab Animal Medicine. My daily responsibilities

include but are not limited to: cage-changing for a variety of species from mice to primates, providing

enrichment, giving food, water, and special diets, weaning new litters, and keeping all data on the animals

up-to-date and highly organized. Even though this is a good job, it does not utilize all of the experience

and knowledge I have gained through my education and previous work and life experiences.

My work experience has involved traveling and volunteering in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Latvia.

I have demonstrated my ability to learn quickly on the job while working in very challenging conditions

as an undergraduate with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in

Canada. I am also a natural leader with exemplary customer service skills and have been promoted to

supervisor/team lead status in three of my previous positions. I am a problem-solver with a keen eye for

detail. This is demonstrated in my current position where it is imperative that small details such as

complicated mice and rat strains are always transferred correctly to each new document. Even though I

am a very mathematically-minded person, I also possess the people skills necessary for day-to-day work

experiences and for building professional business to business relationships.

Research has always been a love of mine. I enjoy the process from beginning to end and feel that my

understanding of the research environment along with my desire to always be learning would make me an

excellent addition to your team. I am a skilled professional with the experience, patience and

understanding it takes to be successful. I am confident that you will be pleased with the skills and

experience portrayed in the accompanying resume.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely Yours,

Jennifer Nelson

JENNIFER NELSON

6095 Westknoll Drive Apt 397, Grand Blanc, MI 48439

(C) 810-***-**** abk4oo@r.postjobfree.com

OBJECTIVE: Dedicated to making this world a better place with a desire to work in a research environment.

EDUCATION:

• Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

• Graduated May 2007

• Bachelor of Science in the College of Natural Resources in Fisheries and Wildlife

EXPERIENCE:

University of Michigan Hospital Unit for Lab Animal Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 1/08/2008-present

Lab Animal Technician

• Rodent blood collection

• Monitoring of post-operative care

• Monitoring of restricted or special diets

• Perform complex animal husbandry duties in a research environment including the handling, care, treatment,

and breeding of laboratory animals

• Identify and report signs of illness and abnormalities

• Receive and house new animals

• Euthanasia

• Sub-cutaneous injections

• Tail-vein bleeds

Michigan State University, Quantitative Fisheries Center, East Lansing, MI 5/2007-8/2007

Research Assistant/Administrative Assistant

• Processed purchase orders

• Material set-up for short course classes held in fisheries center

• Learned Microsoft Access set-up for lab budget organization

• Maintained department web page

• Typed meeting notes/letter/announcements

• General office duties

Michigan State University, Jones Lab and Hayes Lab, East Lansing, MI 11/2004-8/2007

Research Assistant

• Conducted research alongside members of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Canada and US

Fish and Wildlife employees

• Extracted tissue samples from sea lamprey and maintained each specimen

• Determined the age of various fish species via statolith extraction and microscopic evaluation

• Basic lab knowledge and animal handling

• Hired, organized, and supervised a crew of 4 while conducting research in Ontario, Canada

• Collected sea lamprey specimens from numerous tributaries to the Great Lakes

• Calculated graphs and charts for stream water velocity, distance, and elevation

• Basic surveying knowledge

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Recently help set-up Brehm animal space

• Have worked with Brehm supervisor on numerous occasions

• Member of a committee to enhance lab staff/ULAM relations

• Well-organized, able to multitask and meet deadlines

• Able to communicate effectively in diverse environments

• Able to make difficult decisions in stressful situations

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

• Familiar with SAS and R

• Comfortable presenting data

• Member of technical services team

• Member of American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)

• Assistant Lab Animal Technician (ALAT) certified

REFERENCES

• Available upon request

Contact this candidate