Laboratory Animal Technician

About the team/job

We are Europe’s flagship research laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental organisation performing scientific research in disciplines including molecular biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. We are an international, innovative and interdisciplinary laboratory with more than 1800 employees from many nations, operating across six sites, in Heidelberg (HQ), Barcelona, Hinxton near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome.

Our Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) consists of several organisational units providing service to EMBL investigators.

Your role

Although full training will be provided to ensure you are competent and confident in performing the assigned tasks, this is essentially a hands-on technical role in which you will be expected to have experience in the care, handling and performance of experimental procedures in laboratory rodents. Your main responsibilities focus on the daily husbandry and monitoring of laboratory animals maintained in IVCs under Specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions and therefore ability to work in a barrier facility with shower-in access is required.

You will be accountable for either independently or as part of a team performing a full range of tasks involved in the care of various species of laboratory animals and their environment (primarily mice and zebrafish). Duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Adhere to EMBL regulations and policies on the use of animals in research.
• Provision of basic animal care and husbandry to laboratory animals.
• Monitoring of environmental conditions in assigned areas.
• Provision technical and experimental support to scientists who use laboratory animals for research.
• Assist with monitoring and maintaining EMBL in-house rodent breeding colonies.
• Maintenance of accurate and up-to-date records.
• Participation in the weekend duty rotation.

You have

Current certification to work as a laboratory animal technician (or equivalent training). You will be a careful and methodical worker keen to work both independently and as part of a team. High work ethics, reliability, attention to detail and flexibility are essential. You must have basic computer skills and be comfortable extensively using IT and communication tools. Good oral and written communication skills are key for a successful performance in the job; ability to follow oral and written instructions (SOP); ability to report issues in a network-like environment; awareness of working complexity and flexibility to implement changes in an efficient manner, etc. Working knowledge of English language is essential.

You must also have manual dexterity and physical ability enough for handling animals, supplies and equipment.

You might also have

• Knowledge of animal care requirements, including animal facilities and husbandry regulations.
• Basic animal biology and animal welfare knowledge will be an asset.
• Current knowledge or desire to work with different animal models.
• Knowledge of German is advantageous.

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. EMBL offers attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation with a very collegial and family-friendly working environment. Competitive salary and social security benefits, financial support for relocation, a relaxed culture, professional development, an on-site nursery, canteen and other staff facilities make EMBL is a great place to work.

We are Europe’s research laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental organization performing scientific research in disciplines including molecular biology, physics, chemistry, and computer science. We are an international, innovative, and interdisciplinary laboratory with 1700 employees from many nations operating across six sites in Heidelberg (DE, headquarters), Barcelona (ES), Hinxton near Cambridge (UK), Hamburg (DE), Grenoble (FR) and Rome (IT). 

The institute's working language is English.

What else you need to know

• Contract duration: This position is a 3 year contract that is renewable up to 9 years in total.
• Job location: This role can be based in EMBL Heidelberg (Germany). You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.
• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Read more on our page for international applicants .
• Diversity and inclusion: We strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. 
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system.