biology research technician jobs

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• CAREER FEATURE
• 21 August 2018

How working as a research technician can bolster your scientific career

• Charlotte Schubert 0

Charlotte Schubert is a freelance writer in Seattle, Washington.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Dunja Ferring-Appel landed a job as a research technician at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, in 2002. She loves the international environment, the constant exchange of ideas, the research puzzles and her work analysing RNA-binding proteins in mice.

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

24,99 € / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

185,98 € per year

only 3,65 € per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 560 , 517-519 (2018)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-05991-4

Related Articles

Technical support

How I fled bombed Aleppo to continue my career in science

Career Feature 08 MAY 24

Illuminating ‘the ugly side of science’: fresh incentives for reporting negative results

Hunger on campus: why US PhD students are fighting over food

Career Feature 03 MAY 24

Recruitment of Principal Investigators by the School of Life Sciences, Peking University

The School of Life Sciences at Peking University is actively seeking talents, with an emphasis on bioinformatics/computational biology/AI/RNA biology.

Beijing (CN)

School of Life Sciences, Peking University

2024 Recruitment notice Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology: Shenzhen, China

The wide-ranging expertise drawing from technical, engineering or science professions...

Shenzhen,China

Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology

Head of Operational Excellence

In this key position, you’ll be responsible for ensuring efficiency and quality in journal workflows through continuous improvement and innovation.

United States (US) - Remote

American Physical Society

Rowland Fellowship

The Rowland Institute at Harvard seeks outstanding early-career experimentalists in all fields of science and engineering.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Rowland Institute at Harvard

Postdoctoral Fellowship: Chemical and Cell Biology

The 2-year fellowship within a project that will combine biochemical, cell biological and chemical genetic approaches to elucidate migrasome biology

Umeå, Sweden

Umeå University

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

• Create new account

Biological Technician

Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments.

Biological technicians typically do the following:

• Set up, maintain, and clean laboratory instruments and equipment, such as microscopes, scales, pipets, and test tubes
• Gather and prepare biological samples, such as blood, food, and bacteria cultures, for laboratory analysis
• Conduct biological tests and experiments
• Document their work, including procedures, observations, and results
• Analyze experimental data and interpret results
• Write reports that summarize their findings

Biological technicians, sometimes called  laboratory assistants , typically are responsible for doing scientific tests, experiments, and analyses under the supervision of biologists (such as microbiologists) or medical scientists who direct and evaluate their work. Biological technicians use traditional laboratory instruments, advanced robotics, and automated equipment to conduct experiments. They use specialized computer software to collect, analyze, and model experimental data. Some biological technicians, such as those who assist the work of zoologists and wildlife biologists, may collect samples in the field, so they may need the ability to hike rugged terrain or otherwise travel through wilderness areas.

Biological technicians work in many research areas. They may assist medical researchers by administering new medicines and treatments to laboratory animals. They may separate proteins from other cell material, and analyze data from an experiment.

Biological technicians working in a microbiological context typically study living microbes and perform techniques specific to microbiology, such as staining specimens to aid identification.

Biological technicians also may work in private industry and assist in the study of a wide range of topics concerning industrial production. They may test samples in environmental impact studies, or monitor production processes to help ensure that products are not contaminated.

Biological technicians held about 84,300 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of biological technicians were as follows:

Biological technicians typically work in laboratories and offices, where they conduct experiments and analyze the results under the supervision of biological scientists and medical scientists. Some biological technicians who do fieldwork may be exposed to weather events and wildlife, such as mosquitoes.

Biological technicians must follow strict procedures to avoid contaminating the experiment, themselves, or the environment. Some experiments may involve dangerous organisms or toxic substances.

Biological technicians work together on teams under the direction of biologists or other scientists.

Work Schedules

Most biological technicians work full time and keep regular hours.

To enter the occupation, biological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field. Although less common, some positions are available to candidates who have less than a bachelor’s degree.

Biological technicians typically need a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related field, such as physical science or natural resources. Positions are sometimes open to candidates who have less education than a bachelor's degree but have laboratory experience.

Biology programs typically include subfields such as ecology, microbiology, and physiology. In addition to studying biological sciences, students may need to take courses in math and physics, as well as in other sciences. Students need laboratory experience, so science coursework should include a lab component.

Other Experience

Prospective biological technicians should have laboratory experience. In addition to coursework, students may gain laboratory experience during summer internships with prospective employers, such as pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturers, or in university laboratories.

Advancement

Biological technicians may advance to scientist positions, such as microbiologist or biochemist and biophysicist, after a few years of experience working as a technician or after earning a master’s degree or Ph.D. Gaining more experience and higher levels of education often allows biological technicians to move into positions such as natural sciences managers or postsecondary teachers.

Biological technicians typically have an interest in the Building, Thinking and Organizing interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Organizing interest area indicates a focus on working with information and processes to keep things arranged in orderly systems.

If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking or Organizing interest which might fit with a career as a biological technician, you can take a career test to measure your interests.

Biological technicians should also possess the following specific qualities:

Analytical skills. Biological technicians need to be able to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision.

Communication skills. Biological technicians must be able to understand and follow the instructions of their managing scientists. They also need to be able to clearly communicate their processes and findings in written reports.

Critical-thinking skills. Biological technicians draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment.

Observational skills. Biological technicians must constantly monitor their experiments. They need to keep a complete, accurate record of their work, such as the conditions under which the experiment was carried out, the procedures they followed, and the results they obtained.

Technical skills. Biological technicians must be able to set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments. They also may need to adjust equipment to ensure that experiments are conducted properly.

The median annual wage for biological technicians was $48,140 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,170, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,090.

In May 2021, the median annual wages for biological technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Employment of biological technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 12,200 openings for biological technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. 

Demand for biological and medical research is expected to increase the need for biological technicians. Synthetic biology, a relatively new area of biotechnology, will employ biological technicians to redesign biological systems or living organisms for medical, manufacturing, and agriculture applications. Continued growth in biotechnology research and development projects, such as using cells to deliver drugs within the human body, is expected to support demand for biological technicians.

For more information about career opportunities in the biological sciences, visit

American Institute of Biological Sciences

American Society for Cell Biology

American Society for Microbiology

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

To find job openings for biological technicians in the federal government, visit

Where does this information come from?

The career information above is taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook . This excellent resource for occupational data is published by the U.S. Department of Labor every two years. Truity periodically updates our site with information from the BLS database.

I would like to cite this page for a report. Who is the author?

There is no published author for this page. Please use citation guidelines for webpages without an author available. 

I think I have found an error or inaccurate information on this page. Who should I contact?

This information is taken directly from the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Truity does not editorialize the information, including changing information that our readers believe is inaccurate, because we consider the BLS to be the authority on occupational information. However, if you would like to correct a typo or other technical error, you can reach us at [email protected] .

I am not sure if this career is right for me. How can I decide?

There are many excellent tools available that will allow you to measure your interests, profile your personality, and match these traits with appropriate careers. On this site, you can take the Career Personality Profiler assessment, the Holland Code assessment, or the Photo Career Quiz .

Get Our Newsletter

U.S. Department of the Interior

• Toggle Font Size
• Toggle OpenDyslexic
• Toggle Dyslexia-friendly black-on-creme color scheme

My DOI Career

Biological Science Technician

Position overview.

Biological Technicians partner with DOI scientists, applying their technical skills in support of research or other projects.  Activities like gathering and processing samples, testing soil or water for toxins, and identifying and propagating native plants contribute to decision-making for the management and protection of natural resources such as wildlife, fish, plants and insects.

This position is represented at the following bureaus

Candidate Description

The ideal candidate is interested in animals, plants, or the environment and is also inquisitive and attentive to details, processes, and data.

Specialty Areas

Microbiology; Animal; Biochemistry; Invertebrates; Plants; Animal Science; Soils; Fisheries; Wildlife

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office, laboratory, and/or in the field. Lab work may include caring for live animals or handling hazardous chemicals.  Field work may include exposure to inclement weather, physical hazards, and wild animals.

Minimum Education Requirements

Please see the  Individual Occupation Requirements  and the Technical and Medical Support Positions  Group Qualification Standard  on the OPM websites.

Career Level Requirements

Responsibilities by level.

• Collect samples and data from field sites
• Perform lab analyses on samples
• Data entry, retrieval and record keeping
• Help conduct wildlife, fish, invertebrate, and/or plant surveys
• Prepare charts and illustrations for reports
• Identify and document plant and/or animal species
• Collect and process water chemistry data
• Analyze experimental data
• Plan and conduct plant inventories and studies
• Install, operate and maintain sampling equipment
• Search literature related to research topics
• Design and conduct portions of research and restoration projects
• Recommend resource management actions based on field observations
• Develop new sampling and testing procedures and methods
• Manages data-sets
• Conduct programmatic activities

Strengths by Level

• Accountability Holds self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results. Determines objectives, sets priorities, and delegates work. Accepts responsibility for mistakes. Complies with established control systems and rules. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Attention to Detail Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Compliance Knowledge of procedures for assessing, evaluating, and monitoring programs or projects for compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and guidance. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Creative Thinking Uses imagination to develop new insights into situations and applies innovative solutions to problems; designs new methods where established methods and procedures are inapplicable or are unavailable. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Flexibility Is open to change and new information; adapts behavior or work methods in response to new information, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; effectively deals with ambiguity. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Information Management Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Interpersonal Skills Treats others with courtesy, sensitivity, and respect. Considers and responds appropriately to the needs and feelings of different people in different situations. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Oral Communication Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Organizational Awareness Knows the organization's mission and functions, and how its social, political, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them; this includes the programs, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations of the organization. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Problem Solving Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Reasoning Identifies rules, principles, or relationships that explain facts, data, or other information; analyzes information and makes correct inferences or draws accurate conclusions. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Self-Management Sets well-defined and realistic personal goals; displays a high level of initiative, effort, and commitment towards completing assignments in a timely manner; works with minimal supervision; is motivated to achieve; demonstrates responsible behavior. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Teamwork Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Technical Competence Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11
• Writing Recognizes or uses correct English grammar, punctuation, and spelling; communicates information (for example, facts, ideas, or messages) in a succinct and organized manner; produces written information, which may include technical material, that is appropriate for the intended audience. Show Tool Tip Entry 1-4 Mid 5-6 Journey 7-8 Senior 9-11

Common Pathways

Candidates who made this career change most commonly held these occupations...

Animal Caretaking

Forestry technician.

Where We Are

DOI employs people at more than 2,400 locations across the United States and territories. Use the Position Locator tool to see where current DOI employees work. To check for job opportunities, scroll down and click "See jobs on USAjobs.gov."

Explore the possibilities.

• National Park Service , Van Buren, Missouri
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service , Arcata, California