Medical Lab Technician

University of Wisconsin-Madison; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Wisconsin-Madison, UW Veterinary Care’s Clinical Pathology Laboratory, is seeking a Medical Laboratory Technician I to join our team. The role focuses on diagnostic microbiology and clinical laboratory operations, working closely with veterinarians to support patient care.

Responsibilities include specimen handling, performing microbiology/immunology tests, data entry, and routine equipment maintenance.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of microbiology principles and lab safety.
• Familiarity with modern clinical laboratory instrumentation.
• Understanding of quality control and quality assurance practices.
• Strong computer, organizational and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and processes biological specimens for testing and troubleshoots collection issues.
• Provides technical support in microbiology and immunology areas; performs tests per procedures.
• Interprets results, records data, and generates reports for veterinarians.
• Maintains lab equipment with routine QC and preventive maintenance.
• Supports other lab areas as needed: accessioning, packaging, and data entry into LIS.
• Participates in training of students and new staff.

Skills

Microbiology knowledge

Laboratory safety

Quality control/assurance

Computer skills

Teamwork

Communication skills

Education

Associate degree in microbiology or medical laboratory technology

Tools

Laboratory instrumentation

Job description

Current Employees

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Job Category

University Staff

Employment Type

Regular

Job Profile

Medical Laboratory Technician I

Job Summary

Are you interested in building your skills in clinical microbiology? We are seeking an individual with training in Medical or Clinical Laboratory Science, Microbiology, or a related field to join our Clinical Pathology laboratory team. This position offers a unique opportunity to work closely with clinical microbiology cases while also participating in immunology, sample receiving, and other diagnostic laboratory operations. We are looking for someone who is passionate about diagnostic laboratory medicine, eager to learn, and excited to grow their microbiology expertise in a collaborative environment. Ideal candidates enjoy hands‑on laboratory testing, problem‑solving, and contributing directly to patient care. This role focuses on diagnostic microbiology and clinical laboratory operations rather than research, molecular biology, or assay development. Join our team and play an important role in supporting exceptional patient care at UW Veterinary Care.

Schedule

The anticipated schedule for this role will be Monday‑Friday from 8:30am - 5:30pm, with a 1‑hour unpaid lunch. The incumbent will also be scheduled every 2nd or 3rd Saturday from 8:00am-10:00am. Weekday hours will be adjusted accordingly.

Tasks

• Prepares and processes various biological specimens, including blood, urine, feces, and tissue samples, for laboratory testing and solves problems related to collection and processing.
• Provides technical support in the microbiology and immunology area of the laboratory; prepares cultures, uses area instrumentation, performs a variety of clinical microbiology and immunology tests following established procedures.
• Interprets laboratory results, records results, and generates reports for veterinarians.
• Assists with routine maintenance of laboratory equipment; uses, calibrates, identifies malfunctions, and performs preventative maintenance according to QC task and maintenance schedules.
• Follows quality control procedures to ensure the reliability and precision of test results adhering to established laboratory protocols and standards.
• Provides support in other areas of the laboratory as needed: accession specimens, process according to established procedures; package and submit specimens to referral laboratories, and enter returned results into LIS.
• Answers phones and assists in clerical tasks, and finding missing specimens or requests.
• Works closely with veterinarians and other medical professionals to discuss patient cases, answer questions and provide guidance on laboratory test submissions
• Maintains accurate and organized records, a neat and clean working environment, and adheres to safety and health regulations when handling clinical specimens and reagents.
• Assists with training of students and new employees in laboratory operating procedures and techniques.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Prepares and assures quality of solutions and reagents according to established procedures (10%)
• Uses, maintains, performs quality control, calibrates, and sets up lab equipment according to established polices and procedures (20%)
• Analyzes and documents test results and related data (15%)
• Provide support for out-of-hour, on-call coverage as needed (5%)
• Processes and performs routine medical laboratory testing on biological specimens (30%)
• Logs data and findings and enters results into a patients' medical records (20%)

Department

School of Veterinary Medicine

UW Veterinary Care (UWVC)

Clinical Pathology Laboratory

Compensation

The starting hourly rate for this position is $24.00/hour, with flexibility based on your experience and qualifications.

Required Qualifications

• Knowledge of principles and procedures used in microbiology, accession receiving, and laboratory safety
• Familiarity with a variety of modern clinical laboratory instrumentation and maintenance procedures
• Knowledge of quality control and quality assurance practices and procedures
• Strong computer skills
• Effective communication, organizational, interpersonal, and customer service skills
• Ability to work as an effective team member

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with clinical microbiology samples and cultures
• Solid understanding of clinical laboratory concepts and protocols in microbiology and immunology
• Proficiency in operating and maintaining laboratory equipment and knowledge of quality control and quality assurance procedures

Education

• Associate degree in microbiology, medical laboratory technology, or related field preferred

Eligibility

Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.

Contact Information

• Hiring Manager: Faye Hartmann, Laboratory Manager, [e-mail]
• Human Resources Support: Anne Kaldunski, HR Coordinator, [e-mail]

Institutional Statement on Diversity

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

Employment may require a background check

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).