Senior Lab Animal Tech

University of South Florida; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

The Division of Comparative Medicine at University of South Florida seeks a dedicated professional to care for laboratory animals and support ongoing research. You will assist investigators, perform veterinary procedures, and keep accurate records of production and environmental data.

Responsibilities include assisting with anesthesia, sample collection, and routine cage/room upkeep. A Level 1 background check is required, with a schedule Monday through Friday, 7:00 am - 3:00 pm, at USF

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and four years of animal handling experience.
• College biology or life sciences coursework may substitute for experience.
• SB 1310 substitution rules apply for degree equivalency.

Responsibilities

• Care for laboratory animals and maintain animal records.
• Assist researchers with animal and technical aspects of protocols.
• Perform basic to advanced veterinary procedures and provide nursing care.
• Maintain facilities, cages, and environmental housekeeping.
• Perform euthanasia and necropsies when required.
• Attend meetings, seminars and trainings for certification and development.

Skills

Animal handling

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Four years of direct animal handling experience (or degree equivalency as substitution)

AALAS certification

LAT certification (preferred)

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Division of Comparative Medicine directs thirteen integrated laboratories for research and teaching involving animals located at the College of Medicine, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Public Health, Children's Research Institute, Knight's Oceanographic Center, James A. Haley Veterans' Administration Medical Center, the Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute,, the Interdisciplinary Research Building, CAMLS, New College and the Heart Institute. The Division provides researchers from all departments and disciplines throughout the University and its affiliated institutions with technical assistance and support services in surgical procedural, diagnostic, behavioral testing, and transgenic laboratories.

Organizational Summary

The Division of Comparative Medicine directs thirteen integrated laboratories for research and teaching involving animals located at the College of Medicine, College of Arts & Sciences, College of Public Health, Children's Research Institute, Knight's Oceanographic Center, James A. Haley Veterans' Administration Medical Center, the Byrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute,, the Interdisciplinary Research Building, CAMLS, New College and the Heart Institute. The Division provides researchers from all departments and disciplines throughout the University and its affiliated institutions with technical assistance and support services in surgical procedural, diagnostic, behavioral testing, and transgenic laboratories.

Position Summary

Provides for the care and husbandry needs of numerous laboratory animal species following federal laws and principles, professional standards, and standard operating procedures. Provides technical support to research protocols. This position performs medical, surgical, behavioral, or other technical veterinary procedures in direct support of research.

Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities for this position include:

• Provides for the care and husbandry needs of numerous laboratory animal species following federal laws and principles, professional standards, and standard operating procedures. Assists with animal identification, reassignments and relocation, and animal inventory records. Contributes to animal clinical records and environmental monitoring records.
• Assists research investigators with the animal and technical aspects of research and teaching protocols. Assists with the production of research animals, recording births, weanings, and monitoring of the productivity of the colony. Maintains appropriate records and tables to accurately reflect production activities. Communicates information with research staff.
• Assists with or independently performs basic to more complex veterinary medical and surgical procedures; assists with anesthesia and provides surgical nursing care and assistance. Assists with the resolution of animal health concerns. Administers medications, treatments and experimental biologics by various routes, such as subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, and intravenous injections, and oral and topical administration. Assists with, or independently performs, the collection and preservation of samples for clinical analysis, i.e., histological, serological, and microbiological evaluations
• Assists with the housekeeping and maintenance of the animal facilities and with cage wash operations. Maintains animal caging and housing rooms, common procedural rooms, and other support areas of the facility in accordance with standard operating procedures.
• Performs euthanasia and necropsies.
• Performs other duties as required. Attends meetings, seminars, workshops, training sessions as related to certification, continuing education, and professional development.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and four years of experience involving animal handling. College coursework in biology or life sciences may substitute for the required experience on a year for year basis.

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.

• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications

College degree (AS or BS) in biological, life, or animal sciences. At least two years of animal handling experience, one of which is in a research or veterinary environment. AALAS certification. Certification as LAT is preferred.

Additional Information For Applicants

This position requires a Level I background check.

Hiring Salary range: $34,000 - $37,000

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday (some weekends and holidays), 7:00 am - 3:00 pm

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu .

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

The University of South Florida maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.