Laboratory Animal Technician Job Description

Laboratory Animal Technicians

There are a wide variety of laboratory settings in the private and public sectors. There are positions at colleges, universities, veterinary or medical schools, government agencies, military labs, private research facilities, and other organizations concerned with research. The need for lab animal technicians is expected to grow as the industry expands.

There is a stable career path for those willing and able to work with animals in a research environment. Lab animal technicians work in private clinics. They can work in humane societies.

AALAS and the National Association of Laboratory Animal Scientists

The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science is a large organization that represents veterinarians, scientists, animal technicians, educators and allied trade groups. AALAS improves the care and use of laboratory animals. The website has information about its certification program.

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America is a professional organization. NAVTA has an online career center that offers job-seekers and employers some of the best resources. There are links to networking, training and career development services on the site.

Laboratory Animal Technicians at the College

The lab animal technicians at the College help teach DVM and LVT students how to perform physical exams and provide preventative care so that they can be the best future veterinarians.

The Laboratory Animal Technicians

You will be tasked with the care, upkeep and maintenance of animal specimen, such as rats and rabbits, which are used in labs for medical and pharmaceutical research purposes. You will take care of lab animals in a way that complies with the law. It is important to maintain optimal lab environments that meet the requirements of the experiments that will be carried out. Techiques need to ensure that appropriate safety and security measures are followed when handling toxic substances and other biological waste.

A Veterinarians' Guide

You will get to work with animals every day and care for them in scientific and medical research laboratories. The UK has strict welfare regulations that you will be responsible for making sure the highest standards of care and welfare met for animals used in scientific and medical research. It's important to convince a potential employer that you are committed to animal care and welfare. Direct experience of working with animals is useful.

The McFadden Laboratory

Dr. Joseph McFadden's research includes work with sheep and in-vitro cell culture systems. The laboratory team is made up of a variety of researchers.

Laboratory Technicians

Laboratory technicians work from Monday to Friday. Some employers have on-call shifts that cover early mornings, evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays. Laboratory technicians are usually based in clean laboratories.

They may wear protective clothing that is sealed. Health and safety precautions are important when working with hazardous substances and equipment, so that they are followed at all times. After gaining further qualifications, experienced technicians can move into specialist areas such as education laboratory technicians or health and safety work.

Animal Technicians

Animal technicians work one-on-one with animals to support veterinary, pharmaceutical, agricultural and medical scientists and students. They care for animals that are used for breeding, scientific and research purposes. Animal Technicians work in all weather enclosures. Shifts can vary and may require work at different times of the day.