Animal Care Technician I – Lab Support & Safety

UMass Amherst; Amherst (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking a Technical Assistant I (Animal Care) for the Animal Care Services in Central Research Support, located on campus in Amherst. This full-time, onsite role supports laboratory animal care, health monitoring, and environmental sanitation under supervision of Animal Care Managers.

Key duties include observing animal health, performing husbandry tasks, maintaining records, sanitizing rooms/equipment, and assisting veterinary staff.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or G.E.D.
• Four (4) years of full-time relevant experience (e.g., husbandry or research experiences with rodents and/or other research animal species) or ALAT substitution.
• Experience working with common laboratory animals.
• Valid Class D State Driver's License.
• Ability to care for laboratory animals safely and sanitary manner per institutional procedures.
• Ability to supervise work-study students.
• Basic to intermediate computing skills.

Responsibilities

• Observe, record, and report atypical findings in animal environments and health.
• Perform animal husbandry duties: feeding, watering, cage cleaning.
• Sanitize animal rooms, equipment, and related areas.
• Handle restraint and gendering of laboratory animals.
• Maintain animal room records and census data.
• Prepare and distribute routine medications as directed by veterinary staff.
• Operate routine equipment and maintain biosafety procedures.
• Supervise student employees as needed.

Skills

Observation & reporting

Animal handling & restraint

Recordkeeping

Basic computing

Supervision of student workers

Safety procedures & PPE

Education

High School diploma or G.E.D.

ALAT certification (AALAS)

Job description

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking a Technical Assistant I (Animal Care) for the Animal Care Services in Central Research Support, located on campus in Amherst. This full-time, onsite role supports laboratory animal care, health monitoring, and environmental sanitation under supervision of Animal Care Managers.

Key duties include observing animal health, performing husbandry tasks, maintaining records, sanitizing rooms/equipment, and assisting veterinary staff.