Lab Animal Technician I

University of Louisville; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Louisville is seeking a Lab Animal Technician I in the Comparative Medical Research Unit. This training position focuses on animal husbandry, cagewashing, and supportive care for laboratory animals.

You will learn to observe health, manage nutrition, handle animals safely, and assist veterinary staff with treatments, gaining foundational skills for career advancement in the vivarium.

Qualifications

• Trained to perform daily health observations on various species.
• Provide appropriate nutrition and water for research models.
• Handle animals safely and humanely.
• Maintain a clean, enriched living environment for animals.
• Change cages using aseptic techniques in rodent housing areas.
• Follow safety guidelines for biohazard and chemical hazard exposure.
• Meet enrichment needs and socialization requirements.
• Assist veterinary staff with medical treatments as needed.
• Learn basic rodent colony management and report issues.
• Operate and maintain PPE and sanitation equipment.
• Learn to assemble and sanitize cage systems and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily health observations and report issues to veterinary staff.
• Provide nutrition and water to sustain research models.
• Ensure safe, humane handling of animal species.
• Maintain clean, enriched cages and living areas.
• Change cages and sanitize rodent housing areas using aseptic technique.

Skills

Health observations

Nutritional requirements

Safe animal handling

Enrichment implementation

PPE usage

Cage washing

Sterilization procedures

Rodent colony management

Autoclave operation

Hazard awareness (bio/chemical)

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Tunnel washers

Rack washers

Autoclaves

Job description

## Lab Animal Technician IApply: Health Sciences Center: Full time: Posted Today: End Date: November 24, 2026 (10 days left to apply): R109717**Department:****Location:**Health Sciences Center**Time Type:**Full time**Worker Type:**Regular**Job Req ID:**R109717**Minimum Requirements:**High school diploma or GED and one or more years of work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience. Must pass criminal background check and pre-employment physical. Grade 1 (Hourly)**Position Description:**This Lab Animal Technician I in the Comparative Medical Research Unit at the University of Louisville is a training position for providing husbandry and cagewash operations for the humane care of laboratory animals. This position offers an outstanding career opportunity with the opportunity for advancement.**Essential Duties and Responsibilities*** Trained to perform daily health observations on a variety of species, be able to recognize health issues, and report accurate descriptions to veterinary staff.* Trained in providing a variety of nutritional requirements and water intake sources to sustain many different research models. This is vital to growth, reproduction, and maintenance of animal health.* Trained to provide safe and humane handling of a variety of animal species to ensure the safety of the animal as well as the technician.* Responsible for providing animals with a clean and enriched living environment on a daily basis.* Change cages using aseptic techniques in rodent housing areas. Clean large animal pens/cages. Cage conditions are assessed daily and may require additional attention due to the research study.* Trained in working with animals treated with biohazards and/or chemical hazards must be handled according to safety guidelines.* Meet varying enrichment requirements for all species and special consideration for socialization needs.* Trained to assist veterinary staff with medical treatments.* Gain basic knowledge of rodent colony management and report regulatory inconsistencies via the Vivarium Advisory Report.* Trained to utilize appropriate personal protective equipment.* Trained to properly assemble and sanitize/sterilize a variety of cage systems.* Learn basic operations of tunnel washers, rack washers, and autoclaves.* Trained to perform mechanical wash and sterilization of equipment, validation of sanitization and sterilization is required, identify equipment failure and appropriate response.* Training on automatic watering system maintenance.* Work weekends and holidays as assigned.**Compensation will be commensurate to candidate experience.**