BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION

A Biological Science Technician supports field and laboratory research across wildlife conservation, animal care, and biomedical study environments. The role sits within federal agencies and research institutions where data integrity and animal welfare compliance directly shape study outcomes. Work spans outdoor survey conditions and controlled laboratory settings. Technicians at this level operate under researcher or investigator supervision while maintaining independent responsibility for data collection and specimen handling.

As the Biological Science Technician, you will collect and analyze biological data, maintain research animals, and support experimental procedures that enable federal conservation and biomedical research programs to meet regulatory and scientific standards. The role operates within veterinary medical units, wildlife refuges, or contractor research facilities, working alongside principal investigators, agency biologists, and field teams.

Career Impact: Hands-on experience across wildlife surveys, pathogen-free animal colonies, and immunohistochemistry builds a technical foundation recognized across federal GS classification levels and private research institutions.

Business Impact: Accurate specimen collection, health monitoring, and field data recording directly determine the validity of conservation assessments and biomedical study outcomes that federal agencies rely on.

Growth Opportunity: Technicians who develop proficiency in sentinel program protocols, avian banding, and tissue clearing methods are well positioned to advance toward Wildlife Biologist or Research Scientist roles.

• Conduct biological surveys and collect field data on wildlife populations, avian morphometrics, and habitat conditions across assigned study areas.
• Monitor research animals daily, identify deviations from normal health status, and report findings to supervising investigators.
• Collect and process biological specimens including blood, urine, tissue samples, and environmental swabs for chemical, histological, or microbiological analysis.
• Prepare animals for experimental procedures including pre-surgical setup and post mortem examinations as directed by the Principal Investigator.
• Operate and maintain laboratory and field equipment including autoclaves, cage washing systems, and analytical instruments to established facility standards.
• Compile, log, and summarize data from surveys, biological evaluations, and laboratory tests to support research reporting requirements.
• Perform quality control checks on housing environments, equipment function, and microbiological monitoring results, escalating deficiencies as required.
• Support habitat management activities including invasive species identification, predator exclosure construction, and nesting success documentation.

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, or a related natural science field, or equivalent work experience.
• One or more years of specialized field or laboratory experience at GS-4 or GS-5 level equivalent, including biological data collection, animal handling, and specimen processing.
• Knowledge of wildlife conservation principles, invasive species management, and laboratory animal care standards including aseptic and pathogen-free colony techniques.
• Ability to collect and process blood, tissue, and environmental samples and maintain accurate chain-of-custody and animal care records.
• Familiarity with research regulatory compliance requirements governing animal care programs in federal or accredited research settings.
• Valid state driver's license required for field assignment positions.

• One-half year or more of graduate level education or internship experience directly related to biological research, animal husbandry, or conservation science.
• Experience performing immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, or tissue clearing protocols in a research laboratory setting.
• Prior exposure to avian banding, wildlife population surveys, or sentinel program sample collection in a federal or state agency context.

• Specimen integrity rate, measuring the proportion of collected samples accepted without rejection by the analytical laboratory.
• Animal health incident response time, tracking hours between observed deviation and documented supervisor notification.
• Data recording accuracy, measured by error rate across field logs and animal care documentation audits.
• Survey coverage rate, reflecting the percentage of assigned study plots or animal census tasks completed per schedule.
• Equipment compliance rate, based on quality control check completion and deficiency reporting within required timeframes.
• Typical tools: Field survey equipment (commonly GPS units and rangefinders); Laboratory processing equipment (commonly autoclaves and cage washers); Microscopy platforms (commonly brightfield and epifluorescence systems).

• Base Salary Range: $36,000 to $52,000 per year depending on GS level and location.
• Bonus: not typical for federal positions; performance awards available in some agencies.
• Equity: not applicable.
• Health Benefits: comprehensive federal or employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• PTO: 13 to 26 days per year depending on federal service length or employer policy.
• Common Perks: Fieldwork expense reimbursement, continuing education support, and access to federal research facilities.

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 all positions using this template, and some federal roles may require additional security or background screening as a condition of employment. Reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act are available to qualified applicants upon request during the application or onboarding process. All candidates are evaluated without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

The Biological Science Technician shapes multifaceted wildlife studies by conducting biological surveys, collecting field data, and monitoring avian populations across conservation and management programs. Working closely with agency biologists and field teams, the technician delivers actionable data that supports habitat restoration, invasive species control, and wildlife population assessments.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with performing biological studies to determine the manner and extent to which wildlife populations are affected by management activities.
• Use field equipment including cameras, GPS equipment, binoculars, rangefinders and computers to capture wildlife survey data or for other records.
• Independently identify and collect data for studies.
• Log samples and data to be used for analysis.
• Use a variety of laboratory equipment to perform standardized tasks for studies.
• Compile and summarize data from surveys, biological evaluations, and tests.
• Collect avian morphometric data and biological samples by capturing, measuring, bleeding, and marking birds.
• Locate nesting locations, construct predator ex-closures around nests and other forms of predator control, monitor nesting success, handle and band birds, and document disturbance factors affecting reproductive success.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics.
• 24 semester hours, including at least 6 semester hours directly related to the position.
• Valid state driver's license required and must be maintained throughout the period of employment.
• One year of specialized experience at GS-4 level or equivalent, including assisting with wildlife population surveys, capturing and tagging wildlife, and collecting and recording field data.
• Knowledge of conservation, wildlife management, and invasive species identification and control methods.
• Ability to conduct biological surveys, collect biological samples, perform data analysis, and assist with habitat restoration and invasive species eradication using hand, mechanical, or chemical controls.
• Proficiency with field equipment including cameras, GPS devices, binoculars, and rangefinders, as well as databases and reporting systems for data storage and analysis.

Research delivers routine husbandry, specimen collection, and pre-procedural preparation support for research animals housed in a veterinary medical unit. Working under the direction of the lead researcher and supervisory staff, the technician builds a foundation of compliant animal care documentation and welfare monitoring that enables uninterrupted research operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide food and water to all animals following verbal and written protocols and prepare customized diets when required.
• Keep accurate census logs and track consumption of facility supplies on an ongoing basis.
• Document all aspects of animal management including feeding schedules, treatments, disposal procedures, and environmental conditions.
• Run cage washing, bottle cleaning, and autoclave equipment according to established facility procedures.
• Perform quality checks on facility equipment and conduct microbiological assessments of housing areas, escalating any identified issues.
• Deliver prescribed medical interventions to animals in accordance with approved study protocols.
• Gather biological specimens including blood draws, urine collection, and tissue samples for chemical or histological analysis.
• Ready animals for study procedures by completing pre-procedural preparation steps as directed by the lead researcher.

Required Qualifications

• One-half year of graduate level education (9 semester hours above a bachelor's degree) or an internship in coursework directly related to the position, obtained from an accredited college or university.
• One year of hands-on experience at GS-5 level or equivalent in a research animal facility, including routine husbandry, regulatory record maintenance, specimen collection, and preparation support for experimental work.
• Familiarity with accepted standards for laboratory animal welfare, barrier housing techniques, and compliance requirements governing research animal programs.
• Demonstrated ability to gather and process biological samples, contribute to sentinel monitoring programs, and assist with necropsy procedures.
• Hands-on competency with cage processing equipment, sterilization systems, and digital or paper-based tracking tools for animal care documentation.

Sitting at the intersection of laboratory research and biological data analysis, the Biological Science Technician leads specimen processing, microscopy, and immunohistochemistry workflows that support scientific findings and research summaries. Operating across quantitative and qualitative analysis platforms, the technician advances the accuracy and integrity of experimental outcomes by coordinating technical staff and maintaining analytical equipment.

Duties

• Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.
• Coordinate the work of biological technicians, technologists, and other scientists.
• Prepare, organize, and maintain various lab samples, supplies, and equipment.
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis, such as spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, and computer-controlled analyzers.
• Analyze laboratory findings and learn new laboratory techniques and procedures.
• Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
• Monitor operational procedures in technical environments to ensure conformance to standards.
• Record research or operational data using microscopy and flow cytometry.
• Interpret research or operational data.

Skills and Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience performing histology, antibody validation, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and multiplex immunofluorescence (MF-IHC) biomarker screening.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in tissue clearing protocols, in situ hybridization using RNAscope HiPlex and related assays, tissue dissection, and tissue and cell culture.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with basic animal handling including rats and mice, and standard chromogenic and fluorescence IHC techniques.
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analysis methods and research data interpretation.
• Ability to operate and maintain analytical instruments, perform microscopy and flow cytometry, and apply in situ hybridization techniques.
• Proficiency with spectrophotometers, calorimeters, flame photometers, computer-controlled analyzers, microscopy platforms including brightfield, epifluorescence, confocal and light sheet, and flow cytometry systems.

Embedded within a controlled veterinary research environment, the Biological Science Technician (Animal) - Research owns the independent management of daily husbandry operations across the VMU with reduced supervisory oversight. Working closely with the Principal Investigator and institutional compliance staff, the technician shapes animal care outcomes by executing quality assurance reviews, managing containment protocols, and delivering comprehensive procedural preparation support for experimental studies.

Core Functions

• Independently manage the full scope of daily animal husbandry activities across the VMU with a reduced need for direct oversight.
• Observe research animals on a daily basis, assess deviations from baseline health parameters, and communicate findings to supervisory personnel.
• Coordinate the onboarding of incoming research animals and initiate associated administrative and housing records.
• Allocate weanlings to sex-appropriate housing and adjust cage assignments within the breeding population as circumstances require.
• Sustain the health and welfare of animals under specialized containment conditions including aseptic colony management protocols.
• Calibrate and operate cage washing, bottle processing, and autoclave systems in compliance with facility standards.
• Execute scheduled quality assurance reviews of husbandry equipment and perform environmental microbiological sampling of animal housing spaces.
• Perform comprehensive pre-surgical preparation and procedural support activities for animal experiments at the direction of the Principal Investigator.

Qualifications and Experience

• +1 year of graduate-level education obtained from an accredited college or university.
• Progressively responsible experience at GS-07 equivalent grade, demonstrating the capacity to manage animal care operations with limited guidance across husbandry, compliance monitoring, sample acquisition, and procedural preparation tasks.
• Advanced working knowledge of controlled research facility standards, containment protocols, sentinel surveillance procedures, and institutional animal care compliance frameworks.
• Capacity to self-direct daily operational tasks, obtain biological specimens for research programs, and deliver full procedural preparation support including pre-anesthetic and post-procedural care.
• Skilled in the operation and upkeep of laboratory processing equipment and proficient in maintaining facility compliance records and environmental monitoring documentation systems.