Job Description

:

Job Title: Biology Animal Care Technician

Effective Date: 08/19/2026

Reports to:

• Associate Professor of Biology
• Biology Laboratory Manager
• Academic Secretary for Biology

Department: Biology

Rate of Pay: Maryland Minimum Wage

FSLA Status: Non-Exempt

Location of Position: Eaton Hall, McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster, MD 21157

Duration of Appointment: August 5, 2026 to May 25, 2027

Schedule: Schedule is at discretion of supervisor

Evaluation Procedures: Student workers are evaluated on a continuous basis.

Scope: Responsible for feeding animals (currently freshwater fishes and anole lizards; sometimes geckos, frogs, and/or invertebrate colonies), cleaning and maintaining various animal habitats, and maintaining clear log books documenting animal care.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate schedules with the other animal care technician, researchers, staff, and Principal Investigators (PIs, professors) so that every animal is checked every day of the week.
  • This includes weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather.
• Feed animals as described in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and document feedings.
• Clean animal cages/tanks as described in SOPs and document cleanings.
• Maintain reservoirs of clean water, food, and any other back-up supplies as described by SOPs and/or McDaniel Disaster Plan
• Document any necessary environmental conditions (e.g., aquarium water chemistry, temperature, humidity, etc.) as described in SOPs.
• Maintain any live food colonies (e.g., crickets for lizards) as described in SOPs.
• Complete all relevant online CITI training related to animal care.
• Participate in the McDaniel College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee's (IACUC's) inspections of Biology Departmental animal spaces (twice per year).
• Assist Biology PIs in any of the following activities:
  • Writing/printing/organizing/maintaining proper logbooks and records
  • Writing/maintaining/updating SOPs for animal care
  • Assisting with (researching, drafting, proofreading) animal care protocol applications
  • Organizing animal spaces, including
    • maintaining and organizing food, cleaning supplies, etc.,
    • disposing of broken equipment and/or expired supplies
    • cleaning shelves, bench tops, and floors, as needed
    • coordinating with physical plant or housekeeping, the departmental secretary, and the PIs in any repairs to facilities.
• Addressing any concerns related to IACUC inspections

Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Current undergraduate student at McDaniel College.
• Ability/willingness to learn how to work with live animals, including live prey (insects). Experience preferred but not required.
• Preference for biology majors/those who intend to major in biology and/or pre-veterinary and/or biomedical sciences.
• Initiative and independence
• Good interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to respect confidentiality of information
• Computer literate with data entry experience preferred
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Ability to do multiple tasks throughout the day

Physical Characteristics:

• This position requires bending, stooping, and lifting of potentially up to 30 pounds. A substantial amount of finger/hand/arm dexterity is involved in regards to working with live animals. The overall setting of the job is in a laboratory with ectothermic animals.

Additional Information:

McDaniel College, in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate in the recruitment, admission, and employment of students, faculty, and staff in the operation of any of its educational programs and activities. McDaniel College will not tolerate any discrimination or harassment on the basis of any protected status including protective hairstyle, race, religion, color, ancestry or national origin, disability, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military status, genetic information, marital status, veteran's status, or any other actual or perceived legally protected characteristics.

Application Instructions:

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