Career Details :: Biological Technicians
Description
Assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs.
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Tasks
- Sets up laboratory and field equipment to assist research workers.
- Plants seeds in specified area and counts plants that grow, to determine germination rate of seeds.
- Pricks animals and collects blood samples for testing, using hand-held devices.
- Records production and test data for evaluation by personnel.
- Measures or weighs ingredients used in testing or as animal feed.
- Adjusts testing equipment and prepares culture media, following standard procedures.
- Waters and feeds rations to livestock and laboratory animals.
- Examines animals and specimens to determine presence of disease or other problems.
- Cleans and maintains laboratory and field equipment and work areas.
Related Careers
- Anesthesiologists
- Dietitians and Nutritionists
- Foresters
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
- Podiatrists
- Soil Conservationists
- Veterinarians
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Performing General Physical Activities
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Job-Required Social Interaction
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Objective or Subjective Information
- Indoors
Related Majors
| Major | Add to XapPack |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Technology |  [ add ] |
| Agronomy | [ add ] |
| Agronomy/Environmental Science | [ add ] |
| Air Traffic Control | [ add ] |
| Animal Science | [ add ] |
| Animal Sciences | [ add ] |
| Animal/Veterinary Sciences | [ add ] |
| Bioinformatics | [ add ] |
| Crop Science | [ add ] |
| Dairy/Animal Science | [ add ] |
| Dairy/Livestock/Poultry Production Systems/Management | [ add ] |
| Field Crops | [ add ] |
| General Plant Sciences | [ add ] |
| Plant Biology | [ add ] |
| Plant Science | [ add ] |
| Pre-architecture | [ add ] |
| Pre-ministry | [ add ] |
| Vegetable Crops | [ add ] |
| Weed Science | [ add ] |
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.