Biology Teaching Lab and Animal Care Technician

Colgate University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 43,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Colgate University seeks a part-time Biology Teaching Lab and Animal Care Technician to support undergraduate biology laboratories. You will care for animals, maintain cultures, manage supplies, develop SOPs, calibrate equipment, and assist with course setup and student instruction.

Collaboration with faculty and supervision of student workers are essential to ensure safe, effective teaching labs. Join a team focused on hands-on learning in physiology, microbiology, and cell biology, maintaining

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years hands-on biology lab experience.
• Hands-on experience caring for laboratory animals.
• Knowledge of lab safety protocols and chemical hygiene and waste disposal practices.
• Proficiency with lab instrumentation and software; ability to train others.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills; ability to prioritize tasks across multiple courses.

Responsibilities

• Animal care and maintenance for frogs, birds, mice, rats, and aquatic systems.
• Maintain bacterial, yeast, fruit fly, and tissue cultures as required.
• Procurement and inventory management within teaching-lab budget; monitor supplies and chemical inventory.
• Develop and maintain SOP manuals for courses; ensure safe lab operations.
• Calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot teaching-lab equipment and software; arrange repairs.
• Set up and break down class experiments; assist with student instruction and research projects.
• Coordinate with Buildings and Grounds for facility maintenance and safety.
• Supervise student workers; provide training and task assignments.

Skills

Lab safety

Animal care

Equipment troubleshooting

Student training

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology or related field

Tools

Lab instrumentation

Lab software

Job description

Colgate University

Biology Teaching Lab and Animal Care Technician

Requisition Number: 2026S074Posting

Full Time/Part Time: Part Time

Division: Dean of the Faculty

Department: Biology

Wage/Salary Range: $31.00-$35.00

Accountabilities

Department Statement:

The Biology Teaching Lab and Animal Care Technician provides technical support to undergraduate laboratories in the Biology department, with a primary focus on courses such as physiology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology, and developmental biology. This position is responsible for managing and maintaining teaching laboratory facilities and equipment, setting up and putting away lab experiments, supporting courses in consultation with faculty leads, instructing and training students, faculty, and staff on equipment and procedures, supporting independent course-based research projects, and ensuring the safe operation of teaching labs.

Responsibilities Include

• Animal Care & Maintenance: Responsible for animal care as a core duty, including frogs, birds, mice, rats, and freshwater and saltwater animals, as well as maintaining aquaria and a saltwater system.
• Biological Culture Maintenance: Maintain bacterial, yeast, fruit fly, and tissue cultures as required.
• Procurement & Inventory Management: Purchase supplies within the teaching‑lab budget. Handle supply delivery, storage, and distribution while monitoring chemical and general inventory to anticipate needs for items such as chemicals, glassware, gloves, and autoclave supplies.
• SOP Documentation & Safety Compliance: Develop and maintain detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manuals for all courses supported by this position to ensure safe laboratory operations.
• Equipment & Software Maintenance: Calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot teaching‑lab equipment and lab software; arrange repairs and service; recommend replacements and upgrades; and train students, faculty, and staff on required class equipment.
• Instructional & Research Support: Support labs and course‑based research in consultation with Biology department professors or assigned faculty leads, including setting up and breaking down class experiments, instructing students in laboratory procedures as needed, and working with student class groups on independent projects.
• Facility & Physical Plant Coordination: Coordinate with Buildings and Grounds and custodial staff to facilitate building repairs, laboratory maintenance, and other facility‑related needs.
• Student Worker Supervision: Supervise and support student workers by developing task assignments, providing training, and ensuring that laboratory equipment and procedures are used correctly and safely.
• Field Experience Transportation: Operate university vehicles to safely transport students to and from off‑campus laboratory and field experiences, as needed.
• Departmental Event & Search Support: Assist the Administrative Department Coordinator (ADC) with the setup and breakdown of departmental events, with particular emphasis on summer research programs and student activities. Participate in departmental searches as requested (e.g., meeting with candidates during campus visits).
• Professional Development & Protocol Testing: Engage in ongoing professional development and departmental learning, including attending departmental lectures and student research symposia. Collaborate with faculty to investigate, evaluate, and test new laboratory protocols for potential use in courses.
• Responsible for immediately reporting any unsafe conditions to the supervisor and/or Environmental Health and Safety.

Members of our community are expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of hands‑on experience in a biological laboratory environment (e.g., microbiology, physiology, or cell/molecular biology), with proven competency to independently set up, run, and troubleshoot instructional laboratory protocols.
• Hands‑on experience handling and providing routine care for laboratory animals.
• Working knowledge of laboratory safety protocols, chemical hygiene, and biohazardous waste disposal practices.
• Proficiency with laboratory instrumentation and software, including basic troubleshooting, and the demonstrated ability to train students, faculty, and staff in safe equipment operation and procedures.
• Strong organizational and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and manage competing demands across multiple courses simultaneously.
• Proactive and self‑directed, taking ownership of results while working collaboratively within a team environment and remaining receptive to feedback.
• Clear, effective written and oral communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to cultivate inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in biology or a related field
• Animal husbandry experience; AALAS certification (e.g., ALAT) or willingness to obtain one
• Experience with aquatic/saltwater systems
• Microbial, Drosophila or cell‑culture experience
• Experience supervising student workers

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field

Other Information

A current valid driver’s license, in accordance with the University’s Driver Safety and Motor Vehicle Use Policy is required.

Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Work Schedule

This is a full‑time 11 month position at 37.5 hours per week. The anticipated month off will be June or July. This role will require occasional weekend and evening work.

Job Open Date

11/02/2026

Job Close Date

Open Until Filled: Yes

The University recognizes that equal employment opportunity can only be achieved through demonstrated leadership. It is the Policy of the University to recruit, employ, retain, promote, and train employees on the basis of skills and experience, capacity to do the job, and valid job qualifications without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

CAMPUS CRIME REPORTING AND STATISTICS

The Department of Campus Safety will provide upon request a copy of Colgate's Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report includes statistics as reported to the United States Department of Education for the previous three years concerning reported: 1. crimes that occurred on‑campus; in certain off‑campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Colgate University; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus and 2. fires that occurred in student housing facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security and fire safety, such as policies concerning sexual assault, life safety systems, and other related matters. You may access the report from the Clery Compliance web page at: https://www.colgate.edu/about/offices-centers-institutes/dean-college/campus-safety-staff/clery-compliance. Printed copies of this report may be obtained upon request from the Department of Campus Safety via e‑mail at [e-mail].