Lab Animal Tech Assistant

Job no: 495375
Work type: Staff Full-time
Location: Baltimore City
Categories: Laboratory Support

Department:

The Rita Rossi Colwell Center

Position Overview:

The Aquaculture Research Center houses research animals for the IMET Faculty. This position supports animal health and welfare and ongoing research projects by ensuring that the animals are well fed; life support systems are properly functioning, water quality parameters are within established limits as determined by properly functioning monitors; records are kept and tanks are clean and the facility is organized. This position also requires routine weekend work and on-call duties.

Why Work at UMBC?

UMBC offers competitive compensation. This role starts at $20.51 per hour and has 14 days of vacation as well as winter break, spring break, and personal days for regular full time roles. Tuition remission is also available.

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Responsibilities:

Understand and perform routine tasks in ARC, including but not limited to:

• Understand and perform feeding routines for fish and invertebrates in ARC
• Making batches of artificial saltwater.
• Determine water quality, observe data, and make corrective actions.
• Monitor controllers for dissolved oxygen, pH, ORP, salinity, conductivity, and temperature.
• Cleaning floors, systems, countertops, spaces, equipment, etc. to meet facility standards.
• Responsible for the care and feeding of animals in the zebrafish room. This includes harvesting artemia, feeding zebrafish, removal of animal mortalities.
• Observe organism feeding responses.
• Responsible for routine maintenance and cleaning in the Zebrafish Room (e.g. scrubbing glass aquaria tank, siphoning glass aquaria, cleaning tank covers, scrubbing rack tanks after removing fish, cleaning rack tank baffles, replacing tank screens with baffles, and mopping wet floors).
• Maintain proper documentation on systems. Review and update SOPs, as needed, in consultation with the IMET veterinarian and ARC Manager/Assistant Manager.
• Assist researchers and the ARC Veterinarian with animal care relocation, weighing, & biopsies as needed under the guidance of the ARC Veterinarian.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED
• Six months in a laboratory animal facility supporting a research project similar to the type being recruited for.

Note: Additional related experience and formal education in which one has gained the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for full performance of the work may be substituted for the education or experience requirement on a year-for-year basis with 30 college credits being equivalent to one year of experience.

• Experience in animal husbandry.

Preferred Qualifications:

• B.S. degree preferably in Biology, Environmental Science, Aquaculture or related field.
• Experience in aquaculture, aquatic animal husbandry, and aquarium maintenance desired. Experience in an aquatic animal research operation desired.

Background Screening Statement:

A background check will be required.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Upload a cover letter and a resume.

Closing Date:

Open Until Filled

Benefits:

UMBC offers a rich benefits package including the following for nonexempt regular employees.

Generous Leave which includes accruing the following for full time positions:

• 14 Days of Annual Leave (increases with years of service)
• 15 Days of Sick Leave
• 15 Holidays
• 3 Personal Days

Tuition Remission:

• 8 credit hours per semester

Additional Benefits:

• Life and disability insurance
• Professional development opportunities
• Wellness opportunities
• & Much more

Contingent II positions may include benefits.

Benefits offered align with type (Regular, Contingent II, etc.) of position.

Salary:

Pay Range 06 (minimum: $20.51 per hour / maximum: $25.64 per hour) based on the University System of Maryland (USM) Pay Program.

The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, Memorandum of Understanding, USM Board of Regent policies, internal equity, budget and qualifications and experience. Most salary offers will be close to the minimum part of the range.

The above salary range represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Hours:

Full-time

Type:

Contractual

Additional Information:

Please note that this is a full-time contractual staff position. The contract term will be for a one-year period, with the option to renew.

FLSA Status:

Nonexempt

Equal Opportunity Statement:

UMBC is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications from women, minority group members, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Title IX:

As an institution that receives federal financial assistance, UMBC adheres to Title IX and does not discriminate on the basis of sex. For more information about Title IX and contact information for Title IX Coordinator click here.

Accommodation:

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability for any part of the employment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at 410-455-2337 or MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Work Authorization

As required by the 1986 Immigration Act, be prepared to present acceptable documentation upon hire showing your identity and that you are a U.S. citizen or an alien who is authorized to work.

Advertised: Sep 23 2026 09:00 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Open Until Filled