Research Assistant Onboarding

This page is intended to serve as a resource for onboarding Research Assistants to animal research/teaching protocols. The items below may not include all trainings, forms, or other necessary items for your specific projects. Please consult with your Principal Investigator (PI) to ensure that you are on track to complete all of your onboarding tasks.

Onboarding Checklist

Required by the WWU Animal Care and Use Program

CITI Animal Welfare and Protections Training(s): Animal welfare and protections training documentation from CITI must be on file prior to any interaction or intervention with live vertebrate animals in research or teaching settings. Read more about the required training(s).

• The appropriate CITI training(s) must be completed before submission of any ACAUP forms. Do not sent copies of training certificates without the appropriate form. PDFs of training certificate(s) should be attached to the initial protocol or modification form submission email, do not send links. See How to Access CITI Course Completion Certificates page for detailed instructions with screenshots.

Modification Form: It is the PI's responsibility to ensure that all individuals working with animals are included in the protocol file. For adding or removing personnel, including student research assistants, use the Modification Form. Someone besides the PI can fill out the form but the PI must review and sign the form before submission. If someone besides the PI submits the modification form the PI must be copied on the email.

• Note: No personnel (including Research Assistants) may touch or interact with a research/teaching animals until an ACAUP determination memo is issued. Working with data collected from research/teaching animals (e.g. Excel spreadsheet with data collected by authorized personnel) is allowed without being added to the protocol. 

Additional Items (may not apply to all Research Assistants)

Lab and/or Protocol Specific Trainings: Additional laboratory specific training may also be required by your PI or lab manager. Questions about additional training should be directed to your PI.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE): If your assigned tasks require PPE, your PI and WWU Environmental Health and Safety should work with you to ensure you have access to properly fitted equipment.

Medical Evaluation: Students who participate in animal research, instruction and/or work affiliated with WWU must complete a medical evaluation form every three years that student has direct, physical contact with live vertebrate animals totaling 24 hours or more per year. Exception: Students having direct, physical contact with live vertebrate animals in only one quarter-long course do not need to complete this form.  Contact in an instructional setting of one-quarter duration is considered too short to create a significant exposure. Students affiliated with WWU that meet the animal contact criteria identified above must complete the following medical evaluation and submit this form every three years. Read more about the medical evaluation process for students working with research/teaching animals.

• Important Reminders about Medical Evaluations
  • You must confirm with your supervisor (this could be your PI, Faculty Advisor, or Supervisor) that you need to complete the evaluation before requesting the medical evaluation/emailing ACAUP Staff.
  • Only use the medical evaluation form provided directly by ACAUP staff, do NOT use previous and potentially outdated versions from other sources.