Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal) in the Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) at Cincinnati, OH. The role focuses on the care, safety and well-being of research animals under VMU supervision.

Qualifications include either one year of specialized experience in animal care and related duties or a bachelor’s degree with relevant science coursework. Compliance with standards and records maintenance is required.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience in animal care or related research work.
• Bachelor's degree with biology/chemistry/statistics/animal husbandry or related coursework; transcripts required.
• Graduate study or combinations may substitute per GS-6 rules.

Responsibilities

• Maintain overall care, safety and well-being of research animals in VMU.
• Handle and care for research animals and maintain care records.
• Prepare animals for experimental procedures and assist with procedures.
• Ensure compliance with animal care standards and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Animal care

Record keeping

Lab safety

Care for research animals

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology/chemistry/related field

Tools

Lab equipment handling

Animal care equipment

Job description

These positions are located in the Research Service, Veterinary Medical Unit (VMU) and report directly to the VMU supervisor/Managing Director located in Cincinnati, OH. The Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal) will be responsible for the overall care, safety and well-being of the research animals housed in the VMU.

To qualify for this position at the GS-5 grade level, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Experience:

You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal service. Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Research activity or control program work; Nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; Work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice. In addition to the experience above, you must also possess the following specialized experience: performing animal husbandry; handling and caring for research animals; maintaining records for animal care and treatment; and maintaining equipment used in the care of animals. Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling his/her own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience. Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

Education:

Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 6 semester hours of courses must have been directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Combination:

Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post high school education and specialized experience that may be used to meet total experience requirements. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to one year of specialized experience. This education must include courses directly related to the work of the position (as described above) and must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

GS-6 Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this position at the GS-6 grade level, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Experience:

You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service. Experience must have been related to the work of the position for which application is made. The specialized experience required for some positions in this series is normally work performed in a controlled environment. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: Research activity or control program work; Nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; Work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice. Specialized experience also includes working experience in a laboratory that involves basic knowledge of overall care, safety and well-being of research animals; monitoring research regulatory compliance; maintaining records; collecting samples; utilizing a variety of equipment; providing technical assistance; and preparing animals for experimental procedures (i.e., anesthetization, surgical preparation and post mortem examinations). Farming experience that was not performed in a controlled environment, or experience as a laborer who was not responsible for planning and scheduling their own work, but only performed assigned tasks, would not qualify as specialized experience. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

Education:

Successfully completed one-half year of graduate education (9 semester hours) that includes courses directly related to the work of this position (i.e., biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics) that may be substituted for the experience required. Such graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Combination:

Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience that may be used to meet total experience requirements. This education must include courses directly related to the work of the position (as described above) and must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.