Biology Lab Assistant (Student)

Bob Jones University•Greenville, SC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Biology Lab Assistant prepares reagents and supplies for biology laboratory courses, sets up and tears down labs, assists students with experiment supplies, and helps maintain a clean, safe laboratory environment. The role may also involve monitoring activities in the science building and enforcing student life policies on nights and weekends. Applicants should specify a preferred specialization: General Biology Lab Assistant, Serpentarium Animal Technician, Greenhouse Technician, or Spider Lab Technician. The General Biology Lab Assistant maintains supplies and reagents and requests orders as needed. The Serpentarium Animal Technician cares for reptiles and amphibians by maintaining enclosures and systems, preparing diets, tracking animal health and behavior, logging data, and supporting veterinary care, breeding, conservation, and public education activities. The Greenhouse Technician cares for plants inside and outside the greenhouse, including watering, weeding, removing dead material, mowing and trimming beds, monitoring and treating pests after training, monitoring facility conditions, occasionally leading tours, cleaning, and applying fertilizer after training. The Spider Lab Technician cares for arachnids and feeder insects by feeding and watering them, cleaning enclosures, removing molts and uneaten food, maintaining feeder-insect cages, unpacking insect orders, monitoring facility conditions and animal health, and occasionally sweeping or leading tours. Spider acclimation to being held may also be included.

Requirements

Must be enrolled as a student at Bob Jones University.
Must currently be enrolled in Biology, Premed/pre-dent, or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; students in other Natural Sciences or Science Education programs may be considered.
Ability to diligently and accurately execute basic laboratory techniques.
Clearly demonstrate leadership and/or collaborative skills.
For the serpentarium specialization, candidates must be comfortable learning to work directly with reptiles and must demonstrate a positive, team-oriented attitude while also being willing to work independently.
For the serpentarium specialization, prioritize the care of assigned animals and abide by strict safety protocol.
For the serpentarium specialization, be in good physical shape and able to lift 50 pounds, stand for long periods, and work in varying indoor and outdoor climates, especially warm conditions.

Nice To Haves

For the serpentarium specialization, preference is given to BJU students in the Zoo and Wildlife Biology track.
For the serpentarium specialization, a reptile-related background is considered; direct reptile-work experience is not required.

Responsibilities

Prepare reagents and supplies for biology laboratory courses and set up and tear down labs.
Assist students with gathering supplies for experiments as needed.
Maintain a clean and safe laboratory environment.
Maintain an inventory of supplies and reagents and request orders as needed.
Monitor science-building activities and enforce student life policies on nights and weekends.
Clean and disinfect animal enclosures, prepare specialized diets, and monitor life-support or heating and lighting systems in the serpentarium.
Track animal food intake, weight, shedding, and breeding behaviors; log daily data; and administer veterinarian-prescribed medications.
Manage egg incubation and monitor humidity and temperature for clutches; participate in species survival or conservation programs.
Deliver educational keeper talks, lead tours, and safely handle ambassador reptiles or amphibians for guests.
Water, weed, and maintain greenhouse plants; remove dead plant material and occasionally up-pot plants.
Maintain the passion fruit arbor and biology tea garden through weeding, mowing, trimming, mulching, and occasional watering.
Monitor for pests and, with training, treat infested plants.
Monitor greenhouse facility conditions and plant health; occasionally lead tours, clean, prune, and apply fertilizer after training.
Feed and water arachnids and feeder insects; clean spider enclosures and feeder-insect cages; remove molts and uneaten food; and unpack feeder-insect orders.
Monitor spider-lab facility conditions and animal health; occasionally sweep floors and lead tours.
Optionally acclimate spiders to being held.
Perform other duties as assigned.