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, Higher Education / Research (University Laboratory Animal Resources).

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Overview

Confidential Client is seeking an entry-level Vet Tech I (Research Associate) to join their University Laboratory Animal Resources team in Elkins Park, PA. This role provides hands-on veterinary support for research animals across a variety of species and offers training and mentoring toward increased independence and competency.

• Estimated compensation: $83,098 per year (estimated)
• PTEA Union Rate (V15): $28.53 per hour
• Worksite: On-site (Elkins Park, PA)
• Employment type: Full-time

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What You’ll Do

• Provide daily husbandry and high-quality care for research animals, including rodents and USDA-covered species.
• Perform routine health checks and document findings in medical records and room logs.
• Administer medications and assist veterinarians with treatments and procedures under supervision.
• Support anesthesia induction, monitoring, and recovery for surgical and procedural cases.
• Prepare and maintain surgical suites and equipment, follow aseptic technique and SOPs.
• Operate and troubleshoot standard laboratory equipment (autoclaves, centrifuges, anesthesia machines, monitoring equipment).
• Participate in preventive health and rodent surveillance programs to identify disease or biosecurity risks.
• Assist with training of research and ULAR staff as assigned.
• Follow all applicable animal welfare regulations and institutional SOPs to minimize impact on research and maximize animal welfare.

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Required Education & Experience

• Associate’s degree in a life science or related discipline, plus 0–6 months of veterinary technician experience or related experience (e.g., research colony maintenance, veterinary technician assistant). An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

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Required Skills & Abilities

• Ability to read, write, and understand English.
• Willingness to work with and handle rodents, USDA-covered species, and other research animals.
• Demonstrated ability to repeatedly lift 50 lbs.
• Competence with standard laboratory and office software (MS Office) and ability to use standard office equipment.
• Strong organizational, detail-oriented, and multitasking abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills for interacting with diverse students, faculty, and staff.
• Flexibility to work occasional overtime, early mornings, late afternoons, weekends, and holiday rotations.

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Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a life science discipline.
• Certification as a Veterinary Technician (CVT, LVT, RVT, etc.).
• AALAS certification at LAT level or higher.

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Physical & Workplace Requirements

• On-site work with potential exposure to animal allergens and research environments.
• Must follow biosafety and biosecurity SOPs and use personal protective equipment as required.

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Why Join

Confidential Client offers comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, paid time off and holidays, and tuition remission eligibility for employees and dependents. The position provides structured supervision and training to develop veterinary technical skills within a university research setting.

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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.