1702055 UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO Te Whare Wananga o Otago
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE: Prosector DEPARTMENT: Anatomy DIVISION: Health Sciences
PRIME FUNCTION
Production and maintenance of prosected human material for teaching and research.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
• Produce and maintain prosections for teaching and research. • Cadaver preparation and maintenance.
KEY TASKS
Production and maintenance of prosections • Produce detailed and accurate prosections, both routine and specialised. • Liaise with clinical anatomy academics to determine particular requirements and precise details for prosection work. • Prepare prosections for plastination and wet display in consultation with Museum Curator. • Maintain the supply of prosections, replacing as required when worn or damaged. • Locate and label prosections for practical exams. • Assist the Dissection Room Technician with the day-to-day running of the Prosection Storage Room by treating and returning class prosections to their assigned cabinets. • Keep the Gross Anatomy Manager informed of any problems with the condition of prosections, making suggestions as to the use (further prosection/skeletonisation) or disposal of damaged/worn prosections. • Assist with the removal (harvest) of body parts for research and teaching and associated labelling, identifying pieces that are best suited to prosection requirements.
Cadaver preparation and maintenance • Develop, in conjunction with the Gross Anatomy Team, specialised embalming and preservation techniques and apply those techniques where appropriate when preparing and producing specimens (e.g. “light” embalming, new formulations for optimum plastination results). • Maintain an awareness of all safe handling practices as they relate to cadaver preparation and maintenance (e.g.: human blood and waste, chemicals, disposal of clinical and related waste). • Preparation of cadavers for classes, including latex injecting, calvarium sawing and other specialised body-related duties that may be required. • Preparation of cadavers and human material for cremation. • Undertake routine embalming for teaching and research, as required.
Page 1 of 3 Warehouse Duties • Provide assistance with cadaver receipt at the Warehouse as required, maintaining a good working knowledge of established protocols. • Assist with the transport of human and other material between the warehouse facility and the Lindo Ferguson facilities as required. • Assist with regular checks of the cadavers in storage at the warehouse, identifying and acting to correct any potential problems early.
General Duties • Assist with postgraduate and professional workshops, providing material and equipment as required. • Assist in clinical anatomy research projects, as appropriate. • Participate in and contribute to regular Gross Anatomy Team meetings. • Assist with class set-up/take down in the DR as required. • Assist with other Departmental duties/activities, as required. • Maintain current Forklift and drivers licences.
RELATIONSHIPS
Directly responsible to: Gross Anatomy Manager. Supervision of: No supervisory role. Functional relationships with: Prosector. Plastinator/Prosector. Dissecting Room Technician. Clinical Anatomy Research Technician. Museum Curator. Body Committee. Clinical anatomy teaching staff. Technical Manager. All staff and students of the Department.
BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITY
• None.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES
• Continual, timely production of high quality prosected human material for research and teaching. • Assistance with warehouse/DR Suite duties is provided in a timely and effective manner.
Page 2 of 3 PERSON SPECIFICATION
• BSc (Hons) in the area of functional anatomy or equivalent is essential. • Experience with human prosecting or veterinary dissection would be advantageous but is not essential as full training is available. • Detailed human gross anatomical knowledge would be advantageous. • Prepared and able to work with human bodies/prosections; sensitive to issues surrounding working with human material. • Willingness to develop and maintain an understanding of the Human Tissue Act 2008 and NZ Standard 8135-2009 and their importance. • Awareness of and willingness to, abide by H&S requirements, particularly as they relate to human material and lifting. • Hold or be able to achieve a full drivers licence and forklift licence. • Experience in use of computer databases. • Ability to work without close supervision. • Accurate and detailed record keeping, including ability to provide detailed and accurate anatomical descriptions. • Highly motivated and well organised. • Able to work as part of a team.
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