Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal)

Major Duties

• Prepares samples of blood, tissue, urine, or other organic substance from animal test subjects to provide specimens that effectively support laboratory test, examination, or research procedures.
• Prepares primary cultures for relatively pure populations of specific cell types to evaluate regulation of cell behavior independent of the animal.
• Follows standard procedures and applies a practical knowledge of the properties of the specimens to ensure effective presentation of the qualities or characteristics critical for accurate testing or examination.
• Performs work involving operative and autopsy techniques, gross pathology techniques, special breeding or feeding methods peculiar to the collection and examination of animal cells, fluids or tissue, techniques for administering drugs or other chemical agents, or observations of physiological and behavioral effects of various conditions, agents and stimuli on laboratory animals.
• Performs test and examination procedures for diagnostic, surveillance, experimental and reference samples that involve delicate and exacting steps using elaborate and complex instrumentation.
• Interprets recorded or collected data that may involve very fine distinctions to identify trends in results.
• Develops new procedures or makes modifications to existing protocols to improve the experimental process.
• Accurately assesses the validity of an experimental process, recognizing common environmental or other considerations that could affect the results.
• Performs common laboratory assays including preparation of solutions and calculation of dilutions and concentrations, pH determination, BCA protein determination, gradient and high-speed centrifugation, and microscopy.
• Performs advanced laboratory assays, which may include but is not limited to, Western blotting, fluorescent imaging, and immunocytochemistry, tissue and cell culture, ELISA techniques, DNA isolation and purification, preparation and analysis of RNA, Southern blots, etc.), kinase and signal transduction assays.
• Maintains complete and accurate records of all procedures followed and all test results using laboratory databases.
• Maintains the laboratory facilities and equipment and controls supplies.
• Calibrates and maintains laboratory instrumentation on timely intervals to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures.

Qualifications

• Experience: You must have one (1) year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-6 level in the Federal service. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: research activity or control program work; nursery work that required the growing and maintenance of plants in a controlled environment; work comparable to that with a large dairy farm where production records, animal environment, and sanitary conditions were kept in accordance with modern dairy practice. In addition, to qualify at this GS-7 level, applicants must also have one year of experience performing duties in a laboratory setting providing routine animal care and testing utilizing knowledge of animal physiology, anatomy, restraint, and handling.
• Education: Graduate education meets the specialized experience required only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7.
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education (i.e., 50%/50%, 60%/40%) as described above.