Laboratory Assistant 3

Overview

This position is for a laboratory/animal technician supporting a microbiology laboratory in Yale School of Medicine. The position will involve laboratory specific maintenance and research support tasks as well as animal husbandry including in a specialized (gnotobiotic) facility.

Duties and Responsibilities may include

maintains laboratory facilities and work areas including inventory and restocking of supplies. Orders supplies, equipment and apparatus for laboratory and animal facility. Maintains laboratory and animal facility cleanliness. Sets up, operates, and distributes laboratory and animal facility supplies/equipment for experiments. Performs equipment maintenance in laboratory and animal facility. Operates autoclaves for sterilization of supplies. This position also provides husbandry support for animals in a specialized (gnotobiotic) facility. Preparation of supplies for mouse husbandry including sterile preparation of food, water, bedding, cages and miscellaneous supplies. Observe and evaluate animals for signs of illness, stress and deviation in animal conditions. Prepare and administer special diets/water to designated animals. May assist in animal techniques such as drug administration and sample collection. Maintain required records/activity logs according to institutional, local and federal regulatory standards and lab specific practices. This position works closely with research staff and the laboratory manager to provide research support through various tasks including preparation of scientific solutions, media/supplies, experimental setup, modification of equipment as needed for experimental specifications. May assist in instructing research staff/students in basic laboratory and animal techniques and equipment usage such as animal handling, operation of specialized animal facility equipment and appropriate BL2 sanitation procedures.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, ability to follow detailed written or spoken instructions
2. Excellent ability to work and communicate as a team member. Must conduct themselves professionally in team setting
3. Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Google Docs
4. Ability to work independently and consistently follow SOPs and laboratory practices
5. Ability to maintain careful and consistent record keeping

Preferred Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree. Experience with animal care/husbandry and/or laboratory support.

Physical Requirements

Ability to lift 50 pounds and good manual dexterity.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Performs equipment maintenance and repair. Modifies and adjusts equipment and apparatus according to experiment and specifications.
2. Creates instructional materials. Oversees and instructs support staff and students in laboratory techniques and equipment usage.
3. Performs specialized scientific/laboratory procedures and techniques. Formulates scientific solutions and media.
4. Maintains laboratory facilities and work areas. Orders supplies, equipment, and apparatus for laboratory experiments.
5. Performs additional functions incidental to laboratory activities.

Required Education and Experience

Six years of related work experience, four of them in the same job family at the next lower level, and high school level education; or four years of related work experience and an Associate's degree; or little or no work experience and a Bachelor's degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.