Animal Care & Research Technician

Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Psychology Department at Swarthmore College is a vibrant and diverse academic department with a strong emphasis on providing students with hands-on experience in collaborative cutting-edge research. Students have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members using state-of-the-art facilities, including the EEG/ERP imaging facility and the animal facility.

The opportunity:

The Animal Care & Research Technician (ACRT) will be responsible for working with staff, faculty, and students to maintain the day-to-day operations of vertebrate and non-vertebrate labs in the Psychology and Biology Departments. The core responsibilities of the ACRT are focused on animal husbandry, including daily health and welfare checks, providing food, water, and enrichment, and changing animal cages. In addition, the ACRT will also assist with research activities as directed by the PIs, including curricular support for laboratory-based courses (e.g., research practica). While the primary supervisor of this position is the chair of the Psychology Department, the ACRT will take direction from the Animal Facility Specialists and faculty in Psychology and Biology.

The position will require flexible time management and acquisition of new competencies as the animal facility and research projects change over time. The ACRT is expected to learn how to perform all duties listed below and to use this knowledge to help train students as needed. This is a part-time, 17.5 hour per week position that will be required to work some weekend days and some holidays, including winter break, as part of their regular schedule. This position may be ideal for a recent graduate in Psychology, Biology, Neuroscience, or a related field, or someone interested in a career in biomedical research, veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, and/or laboratory management.

Essential Responsibilities

Animal Care

Routine animal husbandry care, including health care checks, behavior observation, handling, adding food and water, reporting injury/illness, and administering emergency health treatments when needed

Daily cage changing, operating cage washer, sanitizing animal cages, racks, and equipment

Daily cleaning of animal spaces such as sweeping, mopping, wiping down surfaces, emptying trash

Assist with keeping inventory of animals and supplies; rotating stock; and ensuring all appropriate spaces are equipped with supplies

Complete daily logs and all relevant non-research related record keeping for regulatory oversight

Share in on-call responsibilities

Comply with federally mandated animal welfare regulations and institutional animal care and use policies

Occasionally perform humane euthanasia of animals.

Report any concerns, issues, emergencies to the Animal Facility Specialist and/or appropriate personnel, including the PIs and the IACUC veterinarian.

Facility Maintenance

Work directly with Facilities for equipment and facility upkeep and repairs

Training & Research Activities

Participate in standard facility training and research-specific training (ie. in person, virtual, CITI modules, etc)

Has and maintains medical clearance to meet Occupational Health and Safety Program Requirements (PHS Assurance)

Read lab protocols

Train and supervise students working in the lab when needed

Assist in research-related activities as directed by PIs, which may include-

Weighing animals and food

Separating rodent pups from mothers

Changing food in cages or behavior apparatuses

Transferring animals to behavioral rooms and/or behavioral apparatuses

Applying experiment-related labels to cages and/or behavioral apparatuses

Operating and troubleshooting home-cage feeding devices

Assisting with set-up and breakdown of experimental equipment

Assisting with collection of behavioral measurements in behavioral rooms

Assisting with collection of tissue or blood samples

Assisting with surgeries

Assisting with injections

Assisting with neural recordings

Taking detailed notes

Notifying PIs of deviations from instructions or protocols.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

Prior experience working with animals in some capacity, or demonstrated potential to work in an animal research setting.

Background that indicates familiarity with scientific concepts and principles, or a willingness to learn scientific concepts and principles.

Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Google equivalents (Docs, Sheets, Slides)

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Psychology, Neuroscience, or related field.

Experience working in a vet clinic, animal research facility, or equivalent laboratory environment.

Prior experience with facilities/equipment troubleshooting.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter by January 16, 2026. Applications received after this date may be reviewed on a rolling basis until the job has been filled. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

The market range for this position is $22.00-$25.00 per hour, which represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range at the time of posting. The salary offered is determined based on factors including, but not limited to, experience and education of the final selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

PA Criminal Clearance Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore College is committed to creating a culture of respect and inclusion so that every member of our community feels a sense of belonging. We actively seek and welcome candidates with diverse perspectives and experiences, exceptional qualifications, and a demonstrable commitment to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any identity or characteristic protected by law or College Policy.