ANIMAL TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION

Caring for laboratory animals well enough to sustain valid science is harder than it looks. AAALAC-accredited research programs depend on rigorous daily husbandry cycles - cage changes, environmental monitoring, colony health checks - performed with the consistency that keeps study data defensible. An Animal Technician in this setting supports principal investigators and veterinary staff across species, including rodents, rabbits, and nonhuman primates, operating within IACUC-governed protocols and SOPs that carry regulatory weight. AALAS certification benchmarks are the professional standard here, setting this role apart from general kennel or agricultural animal care work.

As the Animal Technician, you perform the daily animal care and husbandry operations that keep laboratory animal facilities compliant and research colonies in good health, directly supporting the integrity of in vivo study outcomes. You work within a vivarium team under veterinary or facility management oversight, executing protocols across multiple species and contributing to the record-keeping systems that satisfy both institutional and federal compliance requirements.

Career Impact: Hands-on experience in an AAALAC-accredited facility, combined with AALAS certification progression from ALAT to LAT, builds a verifiable credential set valued across academic medical centers and preclinical contract research organizations.

Business Impact: Animal health and welfare findings you document daily feed directly into study data reviewed by principal investigators, meaning your accuracy determines whether experimental results hold up to regulatory scrutiny.

Growth Opportunity: Mastery of in vivo techniques, including biological sample collection, anesthesia monitoring, and transgenic colony management, opens advancement into senior technician, research coordinator, or veterinary technician roles.

• Perform daily husbandry for rodents and larger species, including feeding, watering, bedding changes, and cage preparation per institutional SOPs.
• Monitor animal colonies up to twice daily for signs of illness, injury, or behavioral abnormality, and report findings through designated health monitoring systems.
• Maintain animal rooms and support areas to established sanitation standards, including cage wash operations and equipment sterilization using autoclaves.
• Document all husbandry activities, health observations, and environmental parameters in laboratory animal resource software and compliance logs.
• Administer test materials, analgesia, and basic clinical treatments to animals as directed by veterinary staff and research protocols.
• Collect biological samples and assist with surgical procedures, including perioperative monitoring and instrument sterilization.
• Support transgenic and breeding colony management, including identification procedures, cage census updates, and genotyping coordination.
• Collaborate with research staff and facility personnel to ensure husbandry schedules align with active study timelines.

• High school diploma or GED, or equivalent work experience.
• 1 or more years of animal care experience in a laboratory, veterinary, or accredited research facility setting.
• Ability to read, understand, and execute SOPs, batch records, and IACUC-governed protocols with consistent accuracy.
• Physical capability to lift up to 50 pounds, stand for extended periods, and work in environments requiring PPE, including respirators and protective clothing.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to report health findings and coordinate with veterinary and research staff.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team while maintaining reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Basic computer proficiency for record entry, email communication, and use of animal colony management applications.

• AALAS certification at the ALAT level or active progress toward it, reflecting formal grounding in laboratory animal husbandry standards.
• Experience with transgenic rodent colonies, including weaning, genotyping, and electronic cage census management.
• Familiarity with GLP regulations and Good Laboratory Standard practices as applied in preclinical or pharmaceutical research settings.
• In vivo procedural experience, including dosing by multiple routes, biological sampling, or necropsy assistance.

• Colony health incident rate, tracking frequency of unreported or delayed abnormal findings per monitoring cycle.
• SOP compliance rate on cage change and sanitation logs, measured against audit findings per quarter.
• Record accuracy rate in animal colony management software, reflecting completeness and timeliness of daily entries.
• Equipment downtime attributable to improper operation or missed maintenance reporting, measured in hours per month.
• Study support reliability, measured by on-time completion of husbandry tasks tied to active protocol schedules.
• Typical tools: laboratory animal management software (commonly TOPAZ, A-tune); health monitoring apps (commonly ManageTasks, HMR systems).

• Base Salary Range: $36,000 to $50,000 per year, varying by region and facility type
• Bonus: Modest or none typical; some facilities offer shift differentials
• Equity: Not standard for this role and seniority level
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard across most institutional employers
• PTO: 10 to 15 days annually, plus paid holidays including some institutional closure days
• Common Perks: Occupational health coverage, AALAS certification exam reimbursement, uniform or PPE provision

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required for this position. Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background check and, where applicable, an occupational health assessment for laboratory animal contact. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities are available upon request throughout the application and employment process.

The Animal Technician owns the full cycle of animal husbandry and cage wash operations across DCM's multi-species vivaria, supporting over 400 principal investigators in an AAALAC-accredited program at the University of Washington. Reporting to departmental supervisors, the role ensures animal health, environmental compliance, and facility supply continuity across a daily census exceeding 100,000 animals.

Key Responsibilities

• Follow Standard Operating Procedures, Working Guidelines, and related documents for cage wash room duties, animal care, and housing.
• Identify and report signs of illness or abnormalities when caring for animals.
• Operate cage washers, bottle washers, tunnel washers, autoclaves, and other support equipment per SOPs.
• Clean, sanitize, and sterilize caging, accessories, and cage washing and food preparation areas.
• Provide food and water to animals, observe and document identification, consumption, care, and general health.
• Prepare clean cages and enclosures, and transfer animals to clean enclosures following proper procedures.
• Monitor and record environmental parameters, and report deviations as instructed.
• Stock and maintain room supplies, review department and university emails daily.
• Drive the department's animal transfer van as needed to deliver live animals and supplies.
• Follow all health, safety, and security policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with animals in a research facility.
• Experience operating a box truck and a small car, with a valid Washington State driver's license in good standing for the past three years.
• Ability to complete university driver education and training.
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in written and spoken form.
• Ability to work independently and in teams, take direction, and maintain accurate records.
• Basic computer skills, including email, word processing, and internet navigation, and ability to use online time reporting databases.
• Ability to learn to operate autoclaves, tunnel washers, and rack washers.
• Physical ability to lift to 50 pounds and carry up to 30 pounds.
• Ability and willingness to work with a wide variety of animals, including wearing respirators or protective clothing as required.

Embedded within a laboratory animal resource team, the Animal Technician monitors animal health, documents clinical observations, and delivers technical support to research staff using individually ventilated rack systems and biosafety cabinets. Working closely with veterinary and research personnel, this role sustains colony integrity and enrichment standards that underpin the reliability of ongoing biomedical studies.

Core Functions

• Monitor animal health and well-being, evaluate and report abnormal conditions, and provide clinical treatments as directed.
• Document, organize, and maintain timely records in the laboratory animal resource software system.
• Provide technical services and support to research staff.
• Provide and monitor enrichment enhancements.
• Provide fresh feed, water, and bedding material as scheduled and as needed.
• Maintain breeding, identification, and gestational databases.
• Operate biosafety cabinets, animal transfer stations, and individually ventilated rack systems, as well as regulated and calibrated veterinary equipment.

Qualifications & Experience

• High school diploma or GED.
• AALAS certification preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in a laboratory animal husbandry position.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with research staff and peers.
• Ability to function well independently and as a team member.
• Willingness to work on weekends and holidays is required.
• Must complete an occupational health assessment for working with laboratory animals.

Reporting to a production supervisor, the Animal Technician independently executes all animal husbandry and ascites manufacturing tasks in compliance with SOPs, batch records, and ISO 13485 regulations in a results-oriented bioprocessing environment. Partnering with lead staff and quality systems, this role ensures accurate documentation and uninterrupted production output that meets customer satisfaction and cost targets.

Primary Duties

• Independently complete all animal husbandry and ascites manufacturing tasks per the production schedule and supervisor instructions.
• Perform animal husbandry, including watering, feeding, cleaning cages and water bottles, and providing fresh bedding per SOPs, batch records, and regulations.
• Monitor animals for well-being, alert the lead or supervisor of any observed discrepancy.
• Perform ascites manufacturing tasks, including priming and collecting ascites per SOPs, batch records, and regulations.
• Audit own paperwork daily for corrections, missing, or incomplete information.
• Ensure adequate supply of lab reagents, auxiliary equipment, and cleaning supplies for daily activities.
• Retrieve controlled documents from document control software and confirm all equipment and materials are available prior to starting daily activities.
• Maintain accurate data sheets, records, and logs in compliance with SOPs, OSHA requirements, and quality system requirements.
• Identify and immediately report any deviation from production documents or SOPs to the lead or supervisor.
• Follow all company guidance, policies, regulations, and biosafety and chemical hygiene practices.

Skills & Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required, no prior experience necessary.
• Ability to read, understand, and follow all company production procedures, SOPs, and guidelines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team setting in a regulated bioprocessing environment.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written, and oral communication skills, with strong problem-solving skills.
• Must be a self-starter, detail-oriented, and able to perform under pressure.
• Must maintain regular attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to lift to 35-50 lbs., stand and sit for long periods, stoop, reach, and push and pull carts throughout the work shift.
• Must be able to wear PPE, including face coverings, gloves, and lab coats.
• Availability for evenings and weekends as needed.

Sitting at the intersection of animal care and community engagement, the Animal Technician maintains the health and identification of shelter animals while counseling customers on responsible pet ownership and supporting adoption processes. Operating across kennel operations, data entry, and public education programs under the supervision of the Kennel or Transfer Supervisor, this role advances both animal welfare outcomes and the shelter's mission.

Duties

• Perform daily feeding, watering, and sanitation of all animal holding pens and cages, and complete weekly maintenance duties.
• Review the health status of animals, advise veterinary staff and supervisor of medical or maintenance problems.
• Humanely transport animals from intake areas to assigned pens, ensuring animals have appropriate identification and correct database entries.
• Assist customers with searching kennel areas, counsel on responsible pet ownership and adoption, and answer basic animal health and care questions.
• Ensure all animals leaving the shelter are wearing identification tags, count animals, and track kennel inventory.
• Photograph animals and perform data entry for adoption applications, kennel admissions, and record updates.
• Clean, store, and maintain all equipment used for feeding, watering, and animal care.
• Participate in educational programs, complete other duties as assigned, including emergency event response.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Three months of customer service experience.
• Demonstrated compassion for animals and the public.
• Knowledge of and willingness to learn vaccination, restraint, and microchip implantation for dogs and cats.
• Ability to work humanely with aggressive or frightened animals.
• Computer proficiency, including Windows OS and data entry.
• Strong communication skills in written and verbal English.
• Sound judgment, self-motivation, and adaptability.
• Ability to collaborate with others, maintain an organized work environment, and support organizational mission and ethics.

A key member of the vivarium operations team, the Animal Technician performs husbandry, health monitoring, and technical procedures across conventional, immunodeficient, and transgenic/knockout rodent colonies, including euthanasia and medical treatments for minor injuries. Collaborating across research staff and facility management using systems such as ManageTasks and HMR, this role maintains colony integrity and regulatory compliance that directly supports ongoing biomedical research.

Functions

• Change rodent cages while strictly adhering to established SOPs.
• Administer special dietary formulations and medicated water per research protocols.
• Maintain animal rooms and facility areas per sanitation standards, including sweeping, vacuuming, washing walls, floors, equipment, and shelving.
• Monitor rodent colonies for sick or injured animals up to twice daily, and record and report findings via Manage Tasks and HMR system apps.
• Operate and maintain husbandry equipment, including laminar flow benches, biosafety cabinets, ventilated air racks, autoclaves, and cage wash equipment, and report malfunctions to supervisor.
• Perform technical duties including medical treatments of rodents with minor injuries, emergency separations, and euthanasia.
• Maintain proper records, including room logs and health monitoring reports, using computerized data collection systems, ManageTasks, HMRs, Alerts, and Compliance reports.

Experience & Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• No experience required, though 1 year in a laboratory animal facility or veterinary technician program is preferred.
• AALAS certification at the ALAT level preferred but not required.
• Knowledge of animal care and husbandry, cleaning procedures, and phone/PDA usage.
• Basic computer skills for record keeping, including Manage Tasks, cage census data collection, and related apps.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow SOPs.
• Ability to communicate effectively with management.
• Willing to learn new tasks.

As the Animal Technician, this role supports all aspects of animal work, including mouse colony management, genotyping of transgenic mice, and basic surgical procedures such as tumor cell injections and tumor resections. The laboratory team relies on this work to maintain colony records, coordinate with animal facility staff, and sustain the operational continuity needed for ongoing research under the Laboratory Manager's supervision.

Activities

• Assist senior laboratory members with all aspects of animal work.
• Manage mouse colonies, including weaning pups, updating electronic cage census, and genotyping transgenic mice.
• Perform basic surgery, including tumor cell injections and tumor resections.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the lab and animal facility staff.
• Perform basic laboratory maintenance under the supervision of the Laboratory Manager.

Position Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required, Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, or life sciences preferred.
• Previous experience working with rodents, performing molecular biology techniques, including tissue and DNA extraction and PCR, and working with mammalian cell culture.
• Excellent organizational skills to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Enthusiastic about learning and committed to teamwork.
• Ability to anticipate needs and perform beyond assigned tasks and responsibilities.

Animal Technician I prepares and sterilizes animal cages, accessories, and water bottles while maintaining enrichment items, sanitation standards, and supply stock for standard and non-standard animal housing in a research facility. The work directly supports the daily care and welfare of research animals by ensuring clean, fully equipped housing is consistently available to animal care staff.

Operational Focus

• Prepare clean animal cages for the daily care of animals used in research projects.
• Sterilize supplies using an autoclave.
• Prep cages and accessories, including lids and feeders.
• Prepare and sterilize water bottles.
• Maintain enrichment items and track sanitation standards for equipment.
• Keep stock of feed, bedding, and other supplies for standard and non-standard animal housing.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• AALAS Junior Technician certification desirable.
• One year of experience in animal care activities or sufficient experience as an animal technician trainee.
• Ability to handle and work with animals, recognize abnormal behavior, and administer routine diets and medications without supervision.
• Outstanding organizational skills.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and utilize judgment to prioritize tasks.

High-quality preclinical research across therapy areas, including Respiratory, Cardiovascular, and Cell Therapy, depends on the Animal Technician at AST, who performs daily husbandry for rodents, pigs, and dogs while contributing to in vivo study design and transgenic mouse breeding programs. Based within a multidisciplinary team that interfaces with Safety Science and Early Bioscience functions, this role ensures all work meets Good Laboratory Standard and Swedish animal welfare legislation requirements.

Accountabilities

• Perform daily animal husbandry tasks for rodents, pigs, and dogs to the highest standards of animal care and welfare.
• Maintain daily records for animals and the environment.
• Perform routine facility operations, including cage wash and maintenance of racks and caging equipment.
• Contribute to the planning and design of in vivo studies, and provide general technical and scientific advice on specific projects.
• Perform breeding and maintenance of transgenic mice, and technical procedures including biological sample collection, animal identification, weighing, and administering medicines and compounds.
• Work flexibly across different areas, and participate in weekend and out-of-hours support as required.

Technical Qualifications

• "Naturbruksgymnasium" or similar education.
• Laboratory Animal education by NCLASET or other relevant LAS course preferred.
• Experience working with laboratory rodents or large animals, with a strong interest in animal care and welfare.
• In vivo experience, including dosing, sampling, and necropsy in animal models, along with knowledge of animal physiology.
• Understanding of Swedish legislation on animal sciences and in vivo studies.
• Understanding of principles of Laboratory Animal Science, including animal welfare and the 3Rs.
• Ability to perform work independently to the required standard.
• Good communication and problem-solving skills.

The Animal Technician II delivers full-cycle in vivo study support across ABSL-2 and ABSL-3 environments, administering test materials by multiple routes, collecting specimens, and assisting in surgeries with rodents, rabbits, ferrets, and nonhuman primates. Reporting to study directors and working within a multidisciplinary research team, this role shapes data quality and animal welfare outcomes that underpin GLP-compliant preclinical research.

Key Deliverables

• Administer test and control materials by various routes, including gavage, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous.
• Collect samples and specimens, including blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, and feces.
• Administer analgesia and anesthesia to all animal species and monitor their recovery.
• Administer treatments to animals with active clinical cases.
• Gather experimental data by measuring and recording body weights, temperatures, food and water consumption, and physical condition observations.
• Observe animals daily and report abnormal findings to the appropriate individual.
• Handle and restrain rodents, rabbits, ferrets, and nonhuman primates; perform animal identification procedures including ear tagging, transponder implantation, and tattooing.
• Assist in surgeries, including animal preparation and perioperative and postoperative monitoring; sterilize surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies.
• Perform animal necropsies and harvest tissues as directed per study protocol.
• Observe all safety and study requirements by reading and following SOPs, GLP, ACUP, and study protocols.

Professional Experience

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Animal or Biological Sciences plus 2 years of laboratory animal research experience, or a high school diploma plus 5 years of equivalent experience.
• AALAS certification at the ALAT or LAT level preferred.
• Knowledge of GLP regulations preferred.
• Excellent written, organizational, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision as a dedicated team player in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work overtime, including nights, weekends, and holidays on a rotating schedule.