Zoology technician

Description

Zoology technicians provide technical assistance in researching and testing animal species using laboratory equipment. They aid in research concerning animals as well as their environments and ecosystems. They collect and analyse data, compile reports and maintain laboratory stock.

The duties of a zoology technician include, but are not limited to:

  • Assisting Veterinarians During Examinations and Procedures
  • Restraining Animals
  • Collecting Samples and Performing Diagnostic Tests
  • Cleaning Wounds and Changing Dressings
  • Preparing Animals for Surgery
  • Performing X-rays and Ultrasounds
  • Administering IV Fluids, Injections, Medicine and Anesthesia
  • Recording Patients’ Vital Signs
  • Reporting Unusual Behavior to the Veterinarian in Charge
  • Maintaining Patient Records
  • Preparing Food Plans and Feeding Animals
  • Cleaning Animals’ Living Quarters

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to zoology technician:

zoologist
animal researcher
zoology lab technician
zoological technician
zoology field technician
wildlife biologist
wildlife manager
wildlife health technician
zookeeper
zoology research technician
zoology laboratory technician
animal behaviorist
animal health technician
zoology researcher

Minimum qualifications

To become a zoology technician, candidates must first participate in traditional vet tech training. Typically, this involves a two-year associate degree program. Some employers may prefer a bachelor’s degree in zoology, ecology, fisheries and wildlife, natural resources management, or a related field. In some states, they may also need a specific license.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Zoology technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Zoology technician career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to zoology technician.

biology technician
bacteriology technician
biochemistry technician
botanical technician
physics technician

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of zoology technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of zoology technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

biophysicist
analytical chemist
immunologist
biochemist
physiologist

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of zoology technician.

  • Laboratory equipment: The tools and equipment used by scientists and other scientific professionals in a laboratory.
  • Laboratory techniques: Techniques applied in the different fields of natural science in order to obtain experimental data such as gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography, electronic or thermic methods.
  • Biology: Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • Applied zoology: The science of applying animal anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behaviour in a particular practical context.
  • Animal biology: The structure, evolution and classification of animals and how they interact with their ecosystems.
  • Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
  • Animal behaviour: The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of zoology technician.

  • Perform laboratory tests: Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.
  • Maintain laboratory equipment: Clean laboratory glassware and other equipment after use and inspect it for damage or corrosion in order to ensure its proper functioning.
  • Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
  • Assist in the production of laboratory documentation: Assist in documenting laboratory work, especially paying attention to policies and standard operating procedures.
  • Apply safety procedures in laboratory: Make sure that laboratory equipment is used in a safe manner and the handling of samples and specimens is correct. Work to ensure the validity of results obtained in research.
  • Use laboratory equipment: Make correct use of laboratory equipment when working in a laboratory.
  • Apply scientific methods: Apply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.
  • Calibrate laboratory equipment: Calibrate laboratory equipment by comparing between measurements: one of known magnitude or correctness, made with a trusted device and a second measurement from another piece of laboratory equipment. Make the measurements in as similar a way as possible.
  • Write technical reports: Compose technical customer reports understandable for people without technical background.
  • Analyse experimental laboratory data: Analyse experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings
  • Manage inventory: Control product inventory in balance of availability and storage costs.
  • Collect biological data: Collect biological specimens, record and summarise biological data for use in technical studies, developing environmental management plans and biological products.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of zoology technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Microbiology-bacteriology: Microbiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
  • Animal food products: The principles of traceability, hygiene and processes involved in the production, manufacture, storage and putting into circulation of animal feedstuffs, or foodstuffs of animal origin intended for human and/or animal consumption.
  • Animal welfare legislation: The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
  • Pollution legislation: Be familiar with European and National legislation regarding the risk of pollution.
  • Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
  • Evolutionary biology: The study of evolutionary processes from which the diversity of Earth’s life forms originated. Evolutionary biology is a subdiscipline of biology and studies Earth’s life forms from the origin of life to the dawn of new species.
  • Chemistry: The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.
  • Hazardous waste storage: The regulations and procedures surrounding the safekeeping of materials and substances which pose health and safety risks.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of zoology technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Maintain database: Maintain a freelance database that offers extra support to your teams and is able to calculate negotiating costs.
  • Write research proposals: Synthetise and write proposals aiming to solve research problems. Draft the proposal baseline and objectives, the estimated budget, risks and impact. Document the advances and new developments on the relevant subject and field of study.
  • Analyse cell cultures: Analyse cell cultures grown from tissue samples, performing also screening of the cervical smear to detect fertility issues.
  • Keep task records: Organise and classify records of prepared reports and correspondence related to the performed work and progress records of tasks.
  • Analyse blood samples: Analyse blood samples using computer-aided and manual techniques, looking for white or red blood cell abnormalities and other risk factors.
  • Prepare visual data: Prepare charts and graphs in order to present data in a visual manner.
  • Inspect animal welfare management: Monitor animal health and welfare management and husbandry, and analyse risk factors in relation to animal health, disease and welfare status.
  • Label samples: Label raw material/ product samples for laboratory checks, according to implemented quality system.
  • Preserve samples: Preserve collected and labelled samples of raw materials and other food products. Preserve samples applying chemical or physical methods.

ISCO group and title

3141 – Life science technicians (excluding medical)


References
  1. Zoology technician – ESCO
  2. Featured image: By DALIBRI – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Last updated on February 5, 2023