Histology Laboratory Assistant (Evenings)

IDEXX • Elmhurst, IL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

As a Laboratory Assistant in the Histology department at IDEXX, you will be assisting with some of the many tasks vital to the running of the histology laboratories within our network of veterinary diagnostic reference labs. We receive thousands of tissue samples every day from Veterinary Clinics, and transform those tissue samples into a slide for a pathologist to review to help veterinarians identify what might be wrong with someone's pet. In this role, you will be helping to sort, and prepare tissue samples for histology technicians/technologists; and be responsible for maintaining IDEXX’s whole slide scanners, assuring digital slide and patient requisition image quality for the Pathology team. Every sample you help to move along quickly and accurately in the process means we are one step closer to finding out how or why the pet might be sick. Thanks to you, someone's very beloved pet will get the treatment plan they need - how great is that? Want to see what it is like to work in our lab? Check out these videos from our lab employees talking about working at IDEXX: https://vimeo.com/idexxcareers https://careers.idexx.com/us/en/histology IDEXX reference laboratories is a global network united by a shared commitment to enhancing pet care where the true strength in our name is the people behind it. Our reference laboratories make it possible for our customers to discover more with our unrelenting commitment to innovation, personalized support, guidance, and expertise, while providing the most complete and advanced menu of diagnostic tests along with technology and tools. Histologists at IDEXX perform dissection, grossing, embedding, microtomy, special staining, and complex tissue diagnostics on veterinary samples from dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and all other pets big and small. Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of pets? The pet owner counts on it!

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Positive attitude and energy to support colleagues.
• Looking forward to working in a team.
• Ability to concentrate on details and work reliably and precisely.
• Strong sense of team spirit and responsibility.
• Strong computer skills - MS Office (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.).
• Ability to create and report on metrics.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent client service skills.
• Able to effectively demonstrate project administration skills and/or task management skills.
• Able to meet the physical requirements that go with working in a lab – standing and sitting for extended periods of time, phone & computer use, extended reach, lifting up to 50lb, and specific vision ability – close, color, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Awareness of potential exposure to biohazards, agents known to cause zoonotic diseases, and hazardous chemicals.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working in a histology lab would be a plus.

Responsibilities

• Inputting sample information in the laboratory database.
• Stocking benches with necessary materials to make sure the technicians have everything they need.
• Running special equipment to prep samples for the histology technicians/technologists.
• Packing samples for storage.
• Assure accurate and timely delivery of casework (and collateral materials) to remote pathologists.
• Maintaining and troubleshooting virtual microscopy (VM) systems which provide remote viewing & digital slide analysis capability to pathologists.
• Organize and archive pending and completed VM cases.
• Track VM system errors.
• Troubleshoot VM system problems with pathologists, labs, vendors, IT and others.
• Assisting with various administrative tasks and other duties as required.

Benefits

• Hourly rates targeting: $21.00 / hr.
• Opportunity for shift differential: $3.00 / hr.
• Health / Dental / Vision Benefits Day - One
• Opportunity for annual cash bonus and merit pay increase consideration
• 5% matching 401k
• Additional benefits including but not limited to financial support, pet insurance, mental health resources, volunteer paid days off, employee stock program, foundation donation matching, and much more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED