Senior Research Vet Tech

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Tuition benefits

retirement plans

Job summary

University of Minnesota seeks a Senior Research Veterinary Technician to support animal health in biomedical research. The role involves independent work with a variety of species, collaboration with veterinary and research staff, and adherence to regulatory standards.

Responsibilities include routine care, assessment of health conditions, anesthesia prep, post‑operative care, and recordkeeping. The position requires LAT certification and Minnesota licensure, with standard weekday shifts and

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited veterinary technology program.
• LAT certification required.
• Must be licensed veterinary technician in Minnesota.

Responsibilities

• Provide veterinary care to animals in biomedical research.
• Monitor health and welfare across species; manage pain and treatment.
• Prepare animals for procedures and post‑operative care.
• Maintain records; inventory and GLP documentation.

Skills

Veterinary care

Independent work

Communication

Animal handling

Education

LAT certification

Minnesota MT license

Job description

About the Job

Senior Research Veterinary Technician Position Description

Title: Senior Research Vet Tech

Job code: 4958

Employee Group: AFSCME Unit 7 - Technical

Full/Part Time (FTE): 100% FTE

Regular/Temporary: Regular

About the Job:

Job Summary: The Senior Research Vet Tech supports the health and responsible use of animals in biomedical research under the care of Research Animal Resources. Must work independently, and must interact and communicate effectively with animal husbandry, veterinary, and investigative staff. Must be able to work with a large variety of species including rodents, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, birds, production animals, and nonhuman primates.

Location and Work environment: This position works in‑person on the Twin Cities campus. This position is defined as an essential role under the University’s State of Emergency policy, and plays a key role in ensuring the health and welfare of RAR’s research animals. During emergencies or other situations that impact normal operations, this position may be required to perform additional duties as assigned to support the team and ensure animal care is not compromised. These duties may include, but are not limited to, animal husbandry, sanitation, feeding, health monitoring, and will be determined at the discretion of the direct supervisor and/or RAR senior leadership based on operational needs. Training will be provided as needed. Unscheduled, mandatory overtime may be assigned by the direct supervisor/leadership as needed to ensure animal health and welfare.

This position is responsible for complying with any and all licensing, certification or other requirements for the position, including any medical and training requirements of the Research Occupational Health Program (ROHP).

This position is not eligible for H‑1B or Green Card sponsorship.

Work Schedule: Standard Shift: Monday through Friday. Typical Shift Times: 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, or 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM (shift assignment to be determined upon hire based on facility needs). Overtime Requirements: As a condition of employment, occasional overtime, including weekend and holiday shifts, is required.

Primary Responsibilities

• 70% Provide veterinary care to animals in support of biomedical research
  • Maintain understanding of research studies and protocols to ensure animals receive appropriate care while respecting the integrity of each study. Must be familiar with genetic manipulations that support specific studies, and how they affect animal health and response to illness or injury. Must be able to accurately assess pain in all species, respond proactively and manage pain appropriately.
  • Using independent judgment and established Standards of Care, assess health conditions of patients.
  • Assess and treat health conditions that may be related to a research study, or spontaneously acquired.
  • Administer medications by oral, subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscular, and intravenous routes.
  • Perform periodic rounds to monitor ongoing treatments and health concerns.
  • Administer post‑operative care.
  • Administer emergency care.
  • Prepare animal patients for, perform, and assist in a variety of veterinary medical and surgical procedures, such as anesthesia prep, monitoring and recovery, dental procedures, wound management, and euthanasia.
  • Perform examinations, and schedule and organize regular health screenings and vaccinations for multiple species.
  • Ensure that inventory is sufficient for these tasks. Maintain accurate and timely records, including GLP and electronic records, animal intake, housing, and enrichment logs.
  • Regularly review medical records for accuracy and completeness.
  • Use and maintain a variety of complex veterinary equipment including, but not limited to, anesthesia machine and ventilator, infusion pump, syringe pump, stereotaxis, suction, warmers, microscope, etc.
  • Manage the pharmacy and equipment: dispense pharmaceuticals, fill prescriptions, and order, stock and maintain inventory of pharmaceuticals and supplies, including controlled substances.
  • Wrap and autoclave instrument packs, maintain cold tray, ensure pharmacy is neat and clean at all times.
  • Manage and perform support services for animal colonies.
  • Manage the health surveillance program, including scheduling and performing tuberculosis testing, serology, parasitology, etc, and coordinating the sentinel program.
  • Review medical records and approve for import and export.
  • Obtain fluid or tissue samples, and perform biopsies. Process diagnostic samples in‑house, and prepare for outside lab submission.
  • Must be familiar with and comply with USDA, AWA, PHS, NIH, IACUC and other regulations and guidelines.
  • Work some weekends and holidays, working in all areas of campus, with the veterinarian on call.
• 10% Technical Services
  • Perform technical services for investigators including, but not limited to, anesthesia prep, monitoring and recovery, breeding colony management, ear punching, ear tagging, injections, sedation, euthanasia and tissue harvesting.
  • Bill investigators for treatments and technical services.
• 10% Train Personnel
  • Train and mentor Veterinary Technician Interns, and newly hired Veterinary Technician Assistants and Veterinary Technicians, to prepare them to work independently in all areas of campus and with all species.
  • As an Instructor in regularly scheduled and special‑request classes, train investigators to use proper technique for injections, tissue collection, anesthesia and asepsis, safety, restraint, identification, assessment, euthanasia, and other techniques necessary for quality research results and animal welfare.
• 5% Facilitate regulatory site visits. Prepare for and assist RAR directorship during regulatory site visits from AAALAC, USDA, IACUC and other authorities.
• 5% Other clinical or technical duties as assigned by the manager

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited veterinary technology program plus four years of laboratory animal experience.
• LAT certification required.
• If assigned to be a driver, must pass a department of motor vehicle record screening
• Must be a licensed vet tech in the state of Minnesota

Preferred Qualifications

• Problem solving skills, strong interpersonal skills, and working as a team member in a lab setting
• Experience with USDA and rodent model characteristics for species specific to biomedical research
• Experience with treatments & pre and post‑operative care for species specific to biomedical research
• Experience with induction, sedation and surgical monitoring of species specific to biomedical research
• Experience with conducting research according to GLP regulations

About the Department

Research Animal Resources (RAR) provides the University of Minnesota research community with animal care, procurement services, veterinary knowledge, and maintenance of housing facilities for animal‑related research activities. The position of Senior Research Veterinary Technician is union represented, and is part of a staff of over 150 employees including Professional and Administrative staff, Civil Service staff, and Union Represented members. RAR has a daily census of 24,000 rodent cages in 20 buildings split into 7 geographic teams around the Twin Cities Campus.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $28.14-$34.30/hour depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil‑Service & Non‑Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree‑seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low‑cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer‑paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world‑renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022‑2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work‑life flexibility.