Part-Time Aquaculture Technician I

MDI Biological Laboratory; Bar Harbor (ME); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

MDI Biological Laboratory in Bar Harbor, ME is seeking a part-time Aquaculture Technician to provide day-to-day care for zebrafish, axolotl, and ATK across campus facilities. The role offers on-the-job training and supports summer courses and MDIBL programs.

The position requires a biology background, commitment to animal welfare, and the ability to work on weekdays and weekends as needed. It is a part-time on-site role with opportunities to contribute to animal husbandry and core facility

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or substantial progress toward degree
• Strong commitment to animal welfare and animal care
• Experience in aquaculture or animal husbandry in a similar role (1–3 years preferred)

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day care and maintenance of zebrafish, axolotl, and ATK, including feeding, tank cleaning, and water changes
• Prepare and maintain animal housing and equipment, ensuring biosecurity and proper stocking
• Perform health inspections and generate health reports for users
• Support SOPs and daily operations of aquaculture recirculation systems
• Receive, quarantine, and transport animals for MDIBL activities and summer courses
• Assist in data management and stocking of supplies in designated spaces

Skills

Animal welfare

Communication

Teamwork

Learning agility

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology

Progress toward biology degree

Job description

MDI Biological Laboratory is seeking a part-time Aquaculture Technician to provide day-to-day care and maintenance of all animals in the facility on campus including zebrafish, axolotl and ATK.

The position provides opportunities to gain experience in new aquatic and biological science skills through advanced on-the-job training available through on campus courses. This position is available through early October 2026.

Position Responsibilities

• Conduct basic animal husbandry, following a strict regimen of feeding, tank cleaning, and water changes specific to our 3 year-round species (zebrafish, African turquoise killifish and axolotl).
• Scrub, disinfect, rinse, and store all animal housing and equipment, keeping the facility stocked for all users.
• Familiarize new facility users with standard practices and biosecurity.
• Conduct health inspections, generate health reports for users, cull infirmed animals, and monitor the health status of all vertebrate colonies on campus.
• Carry out and implement SOPs for everyday duties within the animal core, including but not limited to:
  • Hatch live food daily in the form of Artemia.
  • Conduct daily water parameter checks and weekly in-depth water chemistry analysis.
  • Maintain quarantine status in designated quarantine spaces
  • Receive adult and embryonic fish from outside sources
  • Embryo disinfection.
  • Transfer fry from juvenile to adult housing
  • Collect tissue samples from Axolotl for pathogen detection
  • Carcass disposal
  • Fish spawning
  • Assorted solution preparation
  • Reverse osmosis filter membrane replacement
• Breed and maintain core zebrafish and ATK lines for MDIBL users and summer courses as needed.
• Receive, maintain, and deliver animals needed for MDIBL summer courses (Bullfrogs, Cane toads, Xenopus, Mummichog, etc.), while maintaining top notch biosecurity between them and our resident species.
• Assist in the setup and general maintenance of all aquaculture recirculation systems on a day-to-day basis. Including but not limited to:
  • Probe calibration
  • Physical filter cleaning
  • Media replacement
  • Regular plumbing checks (checking for leaks)
  • UV bulb replacement
  • In-depth surface scrubbing
  • Doser replenishing
• Receive delivered supplies and keep inventories organized.
• Assist in facility maintenance and cleaning such as mopping floors and wiping countertops only in designated animal spaces.
• Practice quality data management to accurately record data in facility-wide checklists, censuses, and maintenance logs and keep them up to date.
• Support scientific services, including C. elegans plate pouring and Drosophila food preparation, using sterile practices and an Integra Mediaclave and Mediajet.
• Ensure that euthanasia and disinfectant solutions and other supplies are adequately stocked and organized for various facilities.
• Perform other animal care duties and research-related tasks as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology or substantial progress towards degree completion, or equivalent combination of experience and education
• Strong commitment to animal welfare and animal care
• Experience in aquaculture or animal husbandry in a similar support or internship role (1–3 years preferred)
• Good communication and teamwork skills
• Strong desire and ability to learn new skills
• Must be able to work on weekdays and on weekends or holidays as needed

Special Position Requirements and/or Preferences

This position will at times require lifting, moving, and transporting related laboratory equipment; at times this position will require working with a variety of hazardous materials; and will be required to work with and handle animals.

The MDI Biological Laboratory is an Affi­rmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.