Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal) - NIAID - DE

Vacancy ID: 827490   Announcement Number: NIH-NIAID-DE-13-827490   USAJOBS Control Number: 335965900

Occupational/Assessment Questions:

Thank you for your interest in the Biological Science Laboratory Technician (Animal), (GS-404-7) position at our Agency. We will evaluate your resume and your responses to this Assessment Questionnaire to determine if you are among the best qualified for this position. Your responses are subject to verification. Please review your responses for accuracy before you submit this questionnaire.

1. Choose the one answer that best describes how you meet the basic qualification requirements for a Biological Science Laboratory Technician GS-404-7 as described in the Qualifications Section of the Vacancy Announcement.

A. I qualify for this position at the GS-7 level because I have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: monitoring animal health; making and recording close observations of animals; handling animal caging equipment; maintaining records of animal health procedures and results; administering anesthesia and monitoring post-surgical animal conditions; maintaining animal colonies; and taking samples of fluids and tissues.
B. I qualify for this position at the GS-7 level because I have 1 year of graduate level education that included courses such as biology, chemistry, statistics, entomology, animal husbandry, botany, physics, agriculture, or mathematics. At least 12 semester hours of courses are directly related to this position.
C. I qualify for this position at the GS-7 level because I have a combination of graduate level education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
D. My experience does not match the choice above.

The following section is used to determine your non-competitive eligibility or priority consideration. If you want non-competitive or priority consideration, you must submit the required documentation to verify your eligibility as indicated.

1. Schedule A (Individuals with Disabilities) – I am an individual who has a permanent, severe physical, psychiatric, or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, and wish to be considered non-competitively.NOTE: If you select "yes" in response to this question, you must submit Proof of Disability. If you are selected, you will be asked to provide a Certificate of Job Readiness. You can obtain this documentation from a licensed medical professional; licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (State or private); or any Federal agency, State agency, agency of the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.

For more information on this hiring flexibility, please visit the USAJobs Indhttp:// with Disabilities Page.

A. Yes
B. No

2. Commissioned Corps Member– I am currently an officer enlisted in the PHS Commissioned Corps.  I am interested in staying in the Corps if selected. 

NOTE: If you select "yes" in response to this question, you will NOT be referred on the competitive Delegated Examining certificate of eligibles, as selection from that list would require you to resign or retire from the Corps.

For more information on the Commissioned Corps, please visit the U.S. Public Health Service Commission Corps Website.

A. Yes
B. No





A. Yes
B. No



1. Monitor the health of laboratory animals.

2. Evaluate laboratory animals for diseases.

3. Monitor caging environments to ensure proper and humane laboratory animal care.

4. Administer food and water to laboratory animals.

5. Update veterinary staff on laboratory animal welfare.

6. Ensure research animals are handled in accordance with regulations and policies on the humane treatment of research animals.

7. Prepare laboratory animals for surgical procedures.

8. Perform physical examinations.

9. Prepare drugs, medicine, and inoculums for laboratory animals.

10. Adjust dosages of drugs, medicine, and inoculums based on animal weight or written instructions.

11. Measure physiological parameters of laboratory animals, such as body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, etc.

12. Administer injections to animals via various routes (e.g. IP, IM, SC, IC or IV).

13. Inject experimental materials in laboratory animals via various routes (e.g. IP, IM, SC, IC or IV).

14. Collect experimental samples from laboratory animals (e.g., blood, urine, saliva, tail snips, and tissue biopsies).

15. Administer laboratory animal behavioral tests.

16. Perform laboratory animal postmortem dissections.

17. Perform whole-body perfusion techniques on laboratory animals.

18. Prepare smear slides or gram stain slides for bacterial analysis from laboratory animal samples.

19. Operate and maintain laboratory equipment in accordance with equipment manuals, standards, and technical text.

20. Determine resources required for the care and maintenance of laboratory animals.

21. Maintain laboratory animal equipment and facilities.

22. Clean and sanitize laboratory animal facilities.

23. Monitor the effectiveness of animal facility sanitation.

24. Calibrate laboratory animal facility equipment.

25. Order laboratory animal facility inventory supplies, chemicals, or equipment.

26. Maintain accurate daily records on animal disposition, health and treatments on individual cage cards.

27. Collect sequential laboratory animal colony laboratory animal health data.

28. Assess the validity of processes and recognize common errors that could affect the results of laboratory animal experiments.

29. Prepare reports regarding laboratory animal census data.

30. Use electronic equipment to record technical data.

31. Maintain animal health and facility records in compliance with Select Agent requirements.

32. Prepare laboratory animal usage reports.



