Student Worker, Biology Animal Care Technician - Work Study and Campus Employment

About McDaniel College:

McDaniel College, recognized nationally among "Colleges that Change Lives" and U.S. News and World Report top-tier liberal arts colleges, is a four-year private college of the liberal arts and sciences offering more than 60 undergraduate programs of study, including dual and student-designed majors, plus 20 highly regarded graduate programs. At McDaniel College we value our employees by offering our full-time employees tuition remission, 403B retirement accounts, paid time off, medical insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and paid maternity and parental leave. For more information about the college's benefits, please click here to review the 2023 benefits guidebook.

Job Description:

To be eligible to apply for this position, you must be a current student enrolled at McDaniel College. This position is open to work study and campus employment.

Position: Animal Care Technician (Biology)

Revision Dates:8/2025

Reports to: Dr. Staab, Sean Wellman, and. Cindy Lowry

Department: Biology

Salary Grade: Maryland Minimum Wage

FSLA Status: Non-exempt

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

Duration of Appointment: 8/6/2025-5/20/2026

Schedule: Schedule is at discretion of supervisor
Evaluation Procedures: Student workers are evaluated on a continuing basis

Scope: Responsible for feeding animals (currently freshwater fish and anole lizards; sometimes 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 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 as described in SOPs.
• Complete all relevant online CITI training related to animal care.
• Participate in IACUC inspections of Biology Departmental animal spaces (twice per year).
• Assist Biology PIs in any of the following activities and any activities that relate to the care and use of animals in the Biology Department:
• Writing/printing/organizing/maintaining proper logbooks
• Writing/maintaining/updating SOPs for animal care
• Assisting with writing and/or proofreading protocol applications
• Organizing animal spaces, including:
  • maintaining and organizing food, cleaning supplies, etc.,
  • requesting orders of supplies (e.g., test kits) before they run out,
  • 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, supervisors, and the PIs in any repairs to facilities.
• Addressing any concerns related to IACUC inspections.

Requirements:

Qualifications:

• Current McDaniel undergraduate with work study
• Ability/willingness to learn how to work with live animals, including the potential for working with live prey (insects).
• 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
• Preference given to biology majors/those who intend to major in biology

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 regard 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 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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