Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Veterinary Research Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a motivated Veterinary Research Assistant to support in vivo experiments, maintain high standards of animal welfare, prepare and process biological samples, perform routine laboratory assays, and accurately document experimental data. The ideal candidate is experienced in animal handling, familiar with research protocols and regulatory requirements (IACUC/AAALAC/GLP), and comfortable working alongside veterinarians, research scientists and lab technicians to deliver reproducible results. This role emphasizes hands-on technical competence, meticulous record-keeping, and strong communication skills to translate experimental needs into reliable workflows.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Animal Care Technician / Animal Husbandry Technician
Veterinary Technician (LVT/CVT) transitioning into research
Recent graduate with B.S. in Biology, Animal Science, or related life science

Advancement To:

Research Associate / Senior Research Assistant
Veterinary Clinical Research Coordinator
Animal Models Specialist or Study Director
Laboratory Manager or Animal Facility Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Clinical Research Coordinator (animal or human-focused)
Quality Assurance Specialist (GLP/QA)
Histology or Molecular Biology Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Assist with the planning, set-up and execution of in vivo and ex vivo research protocols, ensuring experiments are performed in strict accordance with approved IACUC protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and study timelines.
Perform daily animal care duties including feeding, watering, environmental enrichment, monitoring health status, administering medications, cage changes and detailed welfare assessments to maintain AAALAC and institutional standards.
Prepare animals for procedures by performing restraint, weighing, anesthesia induction/monitoring, venipuncture, catheter placement and post-procedural recovery under the supervision of licensed veterinarians or principal investigators.
Collect, label, process and inventory biological samples (blood, serum, plasma, tissues, swabs, feces, urine) using aseptic technique and chain-of-custody procedures to ensure sample integrity for downstream assays.
Execute routine laboratory assays such as ELISA, PCR/qPCR, cell counting, basic flow cytometry prep, and biochemical assays following validated protocols, maintaining strict quality control and accurate experimental records.
Perform tissue dissections and necropsies, document gross findings, prepare tissue samples for histology and molecular assays, and coordinate with pathology services for specialized analysis.
Maintain laboratory equipment and animal care devices (scales, anesthesia machines, centrifuges, biosafety cabinets), perform routine cleaning, troubleshooting and coordinate calibration and preventive maintenance schedules.
Maintain precise and legible study records using electronic data capture systems or paper lab notebooks, enter metadata and experimental observations, and prepare datasets for statistical analysis and reporting.
Monitor and manage study-specific sample storage including cryopreservation, -80°C freezers, liquid nitrogen tanks, and cold chain logistics, ensuring proper labeling, inventory control and adherence to biosafety requirements.
Support necropsy and histology workflows: fixatives preparation, tissue embedding, cryosectioning, slide labeling and shipping coordination, working closely with histotechnologists to preserve sample integrity.
Administer or assist with dosing regimens (oral gavage, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous) and monitor pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic sample collection according to study schedules and aseptic technique.
Perform routine laboratory and facility environmental monitoring, record deviations and work with supervisors to implement corrective actions for animal health or environmental issues.
Participate in training programs to maintain competency in animal handling, aseptic techniques, anesthetic monitoring, and specialized procedures; document training and certifications as required.
Assist investigators with study logistics including ordering consumables, maintaining reagent inventories, preparing study-specific kits and ensuring equipment and supplies are available on study start dates.
Support behavioral testing and standardized observational scoring (pain scales, activity monitoring, behavioral assays) and record standardized endpoints for behavioral and neurobiological studies.
Coordinate sample shipments to external CROs, labs or collaborators, prepare shipping documentation (IATA, FedEx) and ensure appropriate packaging and permits for biological samples.
Work collaboratively with veterinarians and study directors to triage clinical events, provide first response care, escalate concerns and document all veterinary interventions and outcomes in medical records.
Implement biosafety and biosecurity practices including proper PPE use, waste segregation, disinfectant protocols and pathogen handling, adhere to BSL guidelines relevant to the study.
Contribute to study planning meetings and protocol development by providing practical input on animal welfare, procedural feasibility, sample volumes and timing to optimize study design and data quality.
Prepare clear, well-organized materials for regulatory inspections and audits, including SOPs, animal health records, training logs and study documentation to support GLP, institutional or sponsor audits.
Assist with basic data cleaning, preliminary statistical summaries and graphical visualization (Excel, GraphPad Prism) to support study reports and manuscript preparation.
Support grant proposals, methods sections, and manuscript preparation by providing accurate procedural descriptions, data tables and figure-ready images under supervisory guidance.
Provide on-call or rotating coverage for animal facility operations, including emergency response for after-hours animal care incidents and support for time-sensitive study procedures.

Secondary Functions

Support cross-functional teams by preparing reagents, buffers and media under sterile conditions and maintaining a clean, well-organized lab environment.
Provide mentorship and onboarding support to junior animal care technicians and temporary staff; assist in delivering hands-on training and competency assessments.
Participate in facility quality improvement initiatives, process mapping, and implementation of efficiency measures to reduce sample turnaround times and improve animal welfare metrics.
Assist with inventory management and procurement processes, evaluate new suppliers, and maintain cost-effective purchasing practices for consumables and specialized animal products.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient animal handling and restraint skills across multiple common laboratory species (mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and potentially larger species depending on facility).
Competency in administering anesthesia and anesthetic monitoring (isoflurane, injectable agents) and familiarity with recovery procedures and monitoring equipment.
Phlebotomy and vascular access skills (tail vein, saphenous, cephalic, jugular) and experience with micro-sampling techniques appropriate for small animal models.
Experience with basic molecular biology techniques including PCR/qPCR, DNA/RNA extraction and nucleic acid handling best practices.
Hands-on experience running immunoassays (ELISA), sample prep for immunology assays and basic plate reader operation and troubleshooting.
Tissue processing and histology prep knowledge (fixation, paraffin embedding, cryosectioning) or demonstrated experience working with histology core facilities.
Familiarity with aseptic technique, sterile workspace setup, biological safety cabinet operation and contamination control.
Practical knowledge of GLP/GCP fundamentals or prior work in GLP-adjacent environments, including documentation standards and traceability.
Strong competency in electronic and paper-based record keeping, laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and data entry with attention to accuracy.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel for data management, Word for protocol writing) and basic graphing/statistical tools (GraphPad Prism, R or Python basics preferred).
Knowledge of IACUC regulations, animal welfare requirements, and experience preparing or supporting protocol submissions and amendments.
Experience handling hazardous materials and biohazard waste, and understanding of institutional biosafety committee (IBC) requirements and PPE protocols.
Skills in maintaining and troubleshooting core laboratory equipment (centrifuges, microscopes, balances, anesthesia machines).
Ability to prepare, aliquot and manage reagents, standard curves and quality controls for reproducible assays.

Soft Skills

Excellent attention to detail and meticulous documentation habits to ensure reproducible, auditable research records.
Strong verbal and written communication skills for interaction with investigators, veterinarians, CROs and regulatory personnel.
Collaborative team player who can work across science and animal care teams and contribute to multi-disciplinary projects.
Time management and organizational ability to manage multiple studies, prioritize time-sensitive procedures and meet scheduled collection windows.
Problem-solving mindset with the ability to anticipate procedural bottlenecks and propose practical solutions.
High ethical standards and commitment to animal welfare, confidentiality and compliance with regulatory frameworks.
Adaptability and willingness to learn new techniques and protocols in a fast-paced research environment.
Resilience in managing emotionally challenging situations that can occur in animal research and maintaining professional composure.
Customer-service orientation when interacting with internal stakeholders, external partners and core facility users.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Associate degree in Veterinary Technology, Animal Science, Laboratory Science, or related field; OR high school diploma with 2+ years of relevant laboratory/animal research experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology, Animal Science, Biomedical Sciences, Veterinary Technology or related life science.
Additional certifications (e.g., Certified Veterinary Technician, ACLAM/AALAS certifications, lab safety training) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Veterinary Technology
Animal Science / Laboratory Animal Science
Biology / Molecular Biology
Biomedical Sciences
Physiology / Pharmacology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–4 years of hands-on laboratory and animal research experience (varies by employer; entry-level candidates with relevant internships or veterinary technician background considered).

Preferred:

2–5 years supporting in vivo research studies with documented competence in animal handling, dosing and sample collection.
Prior experience in academic labs, pharmaceutical/biotech preclinical groups, CROs or animal research facilities and familiarity with IACUC-regulated workflows.

Keywords: Veterinary Research Assistant, animal handling, in vivo studies, IACUC, GLP, sample collection, histology, PCR, ELISA, anesthesia, laboratory animal welfare, preclinical research, LIMS, animal model expertise, biosafety.