LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

Central Michigan University; Mount Pleasant (MI); On-site; USD 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Michigan University is seeking a Laboratory Technician to support the vivarium and OLFS across campus. The role includes animal care, data collection, recordkeeping, and safety compliance under the supervision of the Vivarium Manager.

Qualified candidates have an associate degree (vet tech or basic science) or certification, with 1 year in a lab animal setting; strong MS Office skills and the ability to lift up to 75 lbs; willingness to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in veterinary technology or basic science (or certification) is required.
• One year of experience in a lab animal vivarium or related setting.
• Strong skills with MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and data collection systems.
• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Performs animal husbandry and handling per SOPs and safety guidelines.
• Maintains and records animal care and room information.
• Monitors animal health and reports deviations to staff.
• Assists with data collection, documentation, and recordkeeping.
• Operates equipment following safety guidelines; supports safety programs.

Skills

Verbal and written communication

Safety compliance

Education

Associate degree in veterinary technology or basic science

Bachelor of Science (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards. You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee. This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials on or before November 4, 2026.

Position Information

Position Information

Posting Number

Posting Number S-3993

Position Number

Position Number 76360

Type of Recruitment

Type of Recruitment External

Position Title

Position Title LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

Position Summary

The Lab Technician works under the supervision of the Vivarium Manager to support the vivarium and the Office of Laboratory and Field Safety ( OLFS ). This position encompasses multiple tasks and areas in the vivarium and the registered laboratory spaces across campus to comply with all policies pertaining to the animal care program and laboratory health and safety.

Required Qualifications

• Associate’s degree preferably in veterinary technology or basic science or certification in veterinary technology.
• One year of experience in a lab animal research vivarium, or closely related environment.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office, (Word, Excel, Outlook), databases and data collection systems.
• Demonstrated effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of vivarium equipment and supplies.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including nights, weekends and holidays as necessary.
• Ability to frequently lift between 25-75 lbs.
• Ability to wear Personal Protective Equipment which may include multiple types of respirators. Required to pass the Occupational Risk Assessment medical evaluation prior to starting in the position.
• Experience complying with health and safety regulations.
• Working knowledge of the care, handling, and treatment of research and teaching animals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree.
• AALAS certification at the LATG level.
• Two years of experience working in a lab animal vivarium environment.
• Two years of experience complying with health and safety regulations.
• Experience working with laboratory rodents.
• Experience managing rodent breeding colonies.
• Experience assisting with training.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Performs animal husbandry and animal handling activities including but not limited to: observation, feeding, watering, sanitizing, cleaning, disinfecting, cage changes, cage washing, cage and accessory assembly and sanitation, facility disinfection, autoclaving procedures and monitoring consistent with facility SOPs, State, Federal and University regulations.
• Reports facility malfunctions and deficiencies to the vivarium manager.
• Maintains and records animal care and animal room information.
• Monitors the health and well-being of the animals, recognizes deviations from normal health status and communicates animal conditions to appropriate staff.
• Assists and/or performs documentation, data collection and record keeping of the animals, housing parameters, standard environmental and equipment requirements, as well as monitors and reports deviations to the vivarium manager.
• Operates equipment and uses supplies following safety guidelines; performs general housekeeping and adheres to safety procedures; complies with safety policies and procedures and safety data sheet ( SDS ) guidelines.
• Performs air sampling/monitoring, ventilation testing, wipe testing, safety inspections, and other tasks to support the health and safety programs (chemical, biological, laser, radiological, industrial, and field safety).
• Assists with managing SAP SuccessFactors online safety training platform- assigns training(s) for lab workers and addresses related processes for online training.
• Manages inventory and ordering for the vivarium and OLFS .
• Assists with Lab Registration Manager administration and oversees creation and posting of laboratory door signs.
• Processes incoming Facilities Management (FM) Lab Hazard and Area Preparation forms – carries out subsequent communication with FM and associated faculty/staff/departments.
• Assists with administrative tasks related to OLFS email, training record confirmation, access control, and lab coat rental program (MSforms processing/organizing, recordkeeping).
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervision Exercised

None.

Message to Applicants

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards. You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position. Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee. This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials on or before November 4, 2026.

Employee Group

Employee Group Supervisory Technical

Staff Pay Level 2

• Pay Range Starting Rate Between: $19.00 - $22.00 per hour

Division

Division Academic Affairs

Department

Department Laboratory & Field Safety

Position Status

Position Status Regular

Position End Date

Employment Status

Employment Status Full-Time

FTE

FTE 1.0

Position Type

Position Type 12 month

Weekly Work Schedule

Weekly Work Schedule M-F, 8-5, occasional flexible schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays as necessary.

Location

Location Mount Pleasant, MI

About the Department

About CMU

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives. We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence. CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more. Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17. CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant. Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex‑based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

If you wish to see “Know Your Rights ” posters, please click here .

CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

CMU’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at:

Phone: [phone]
Office: 103 E. Preston St.
Bovee University Center, suite 306
Mount Pleasant, MI 48858
Email: [e-mail]

Posting Ends

Open Until Filled Yes

Supplemental Questions

• * Are you currently an internal employee of CMU according to the university's definition?
  • Yes
  • No
• * If yes, to which employee group do you belong? (If not applicable, select "Not Applicable").
  • Not Applicable
  • Administrative Office Assistant
  • Dispatcher
  • Lieutenant
  • Medical Faculty
  • P&A, SO or Faculty
  • Police
  • Public Broadcasting
  • Sergeant
  • Service Maintenance
  • Supervisory/Technical
• * Do you have an associate's degree preferably in veterinary technology or basic science or certification in veterinary technology?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have one year of experience in a lab animal research vivarium, or closely related environment?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have the ability to lift between 25 - 75 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation?
  • Yes
  • No

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

• List of References

Staff postings - Human Resources | Contact HR | [phone]| 109 Rowe

Faculty postings - Faculty Personnel Services | Contact FPS | [phone] | 308 Warriner

CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex‑based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.

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