Laboratory Assistant I

Charles River; Shrewsbury (MA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Charles River is seeking a Laboratory Assistant to provide basic lab support and maintain inventory in Massachusetts. You will operate equipment, assist with setup and cleanup, and help document observations while following GLP/SOP standards.

Entry-level role requiring a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver’s license. Pay is $20.00–$21.00 per hour; location near Worcester with opportunities to grow in a busy research environment.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Experience: None.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• Certification/Licensure: Must have valid, state‑issued, driver’s license.
• Other: Must be detail‑oriented and have general familiarity with lab procedures. Good verbal communication skills required. Basic computer skills; familiarity with Microsoft Office software.

Responsibilities

• Receive, monitor, and maintain inventory and stock levels of assigned areas.
• Operate lab equipment and perform routine maintenance as needed.
• May be responsible for preparing lab solutions (e.g., buffers, media/common vehicles, and bleach solutions).
• Wash and dry glassware and distribute to appropriate locations within the laboratory. Keep glass-washing area clean and organized. May sterilize glassware and other items using an autoclave.
• Label tubes and perform laboratory set-up/clean-up.
• Organize and perform inventory of department refrigerators or freezers.
• Assist in the archiving of equipment/facility records.
• Assist technical personnel with clerical duties (e.g., filing, making copies, shipments set-up etc.).
• May record observations and measurements for basic lab/research task.
• Perform limited troubleshooting and maintenance of instruments as appropriate for assigned area.
• May generate forms, tables, and hand record data.
• Perform all tasks in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice Regulations (GLPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ship, store, and document received supplies (e.g., test articles, bio-hazard boxes, dry ice, reagents, etc.)
• Assist technical personnel with laboratory supplies expiry check and discard as needed.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Good verbal communication

Basic computer skills

MS Office familiarity

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

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For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

Perform basic laboratory support and record-keeping tasks.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Receive, monitor, and maintain inventory and stock levels of assigned areas.
• Operate lab equipment and perform routine maintenance as needed.
• May be responsible for preparing lab solutions (e.g., buffers, media/common vehicles, and bleach solutions).
• Wash and dry glassware and distribute to appropriate locations within the laboratory. Keep glass-washing area clean and organized. May sterilize glassware and other items using an autoclave.
• Label tubes and perform laboratory set-up/clean-up.
• Organize and perform inventory of department refrigerators or freezers.
• Assist in the archiving of equipment/facility records.
• Assist technical personnel with clerical duties (e.g., filing, making copies, shipments set-up etc.).
• May record observations and measurements for basic lab/research task.
• Perform limited troubleshooting and maintenance of instruments as appropriate for assigned area.
• May generate forms, tables, and hand record data.
• Perform all tasks in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice Regulations (GLPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ship, store, and document received supplies (e.g., test articles, bio-hazard boxes, dry ice, reagents, etc.)
• Assist technical personnel with laboratory supplies expiry check and discard as needed.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

The pay for this position is between $20.00 - $21.00/hour. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.).
• Experience: None.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above.
• Certification/Licensure: Must have valid, state‑issued, driver’s license.
• Other: Must be detail‑oriented and have general familiarity with lab procedures. Good verbal communication skills required. Basic computer skills; familiarity with Microsoft Office software.

About Safety Assessment Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market. Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.

About Charles River Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well‑being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life. Based on your position these may include: bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.

Nearest Major Market: Worcester
Job Segment: Lab Assistant, Laboratory, Testing, Pharmaceutical, Facilities, Science, Technology, Operations