Necropsy/Histology Technician (Entry Level)
The Necropsy/Histology Technician supports scientific research by performing necropsies and histology procedures on laboratory rodents. This entry-level role involves hands-on training in tissue processing, slide preparation, and animal handling within a vivarium environment, emphasizing accuracy, safety, and teamwork. The position offers growth opportunities to develop specialized laboratory skills in a research setting.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Scientific & QA.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Overview
Confidential Client is seeking an entry-level Necropsy / Histology Technician to join a research laboratory team in Newark, DE. This role is a 1-year contract (full-time, contractor) with training provided and potential to extend or convert. Pay rate: $24–28/hr. Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM (40 hours/week) with occasional early starts and a weekend on-call rotation roughly once every eight weeks after training.
Responsibilities
- Assist with routine and specialized necropsies on laboratory rodents (rats and mice).
- Prepare the lab, organize supplies, and clean equipment before and after procedures.
- Handle, weigh, label, and prepare tissue samples for laboratory analysis.
- Assist with histology tasks (tissue processing, slide preparation, staining) as training allows.
- Learn to operate and maintain laboratory equipment, including automated slide stainers.
- Observe and record animal weights and physical characteristics.
- Assist with humane euthanasia of laboratory animals per protocols.
- Prepare laboratory solutions and reagents and maintain an organized workspace.
- Manage assigned necropsies within study timelines while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
- Collaborate with team members and support additional laboratory tasks as workload allows.
- Follow laboratory safety procedures, SOPs, and established quality standards.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Animal Science, or related scientific discipline preferred; relevant hands-on experience may be considered.
- Basic anatomy coursework or familiarity with animal anatomy preferred.
- Interest in animal research, necropsy, or histology.
- Comfortable working in a vivarium/animal research environment and handling laboratory animals.
- Comfortable with animal euthanasia as part of laboratory responsibilities.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately within timelines.
- Able to follow written and verbal instructions and accept constructive feedback.
- Organized, dependable, and able to prioritize tasks in a time-sensitive environment.
- Able to work independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to learn new laboratory techniques and equipment.
- Availability for occasional early starts and rotation for weekend on-call duties (about once every eight weeks) after training.
Training & Growth Opportunities
- Approximately one month of initial training on laboratory procedures and responsibilities.
- Continued hands-on training to develop necropsy competency (rat competency expected in a few months; mouse competency may take up to six months).
- Histology training provided with opportunities to expand into additional histology responsibilities.
- All required laboratory PPE (lab coats, safety glasses, gloves) will be provided. Appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes are required.
Compensation & Employment Details
- Pay Rate: $24–28 per hour.
- Employment Type: Full-time, Contractor (1-year assignment with potential to extend/convert).
- Location: Newark, DE.
- Schedule: Mon–Fri 7:00 AM–3:30 PM (40 hrs/wk); occasional 6:30 AM starts and periodic weekend on-call rotation after training.
Benefits & Additional Information
- As a contingent employee placed by a staffing partner, you may be eligible for voluntary benefits, retirement savings access, holiday pay and other programs depending on assignment and eligibility.
- Confidential Client and Careertakes follow applicable state and federal employment laws, and reasonable accommodations are available during the application process upon request.
- This posting replaces any direct employer name with "Confidential Client" for privacy in the recruiting process.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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