CompGeo Salary Survey Benchmark Job Summary and Competencies

Biological Technicians

The Benchmark Job Description below represents the specific Position Characteristics of the job used in the Salary Survey. Benchmark Job Descriptions should be inspected carefully to review the degree of matching between an organizations' Job and the Salary Survey Benchmark. Matching internal Jobs to Salary Survey Benchmark Jobs should not be done on Job Title alone. A thorough comparison of Salary Survey Benchmark to Internal Job Descriptions is recommended. A good overlap should exist on any comparisons used on critical Job Dimensions and Competencies.
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Chemists
Benchmark Title: Biological Technicians
 
Summary Job Description Tasks
Assist biological and medical scientists in laboratories. Set up, operate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, monitor experiments, make observations, and calculate and record results. May analyze organic substances, such as blood, food, and drugs. Keep detailed logs of all work-related activities.
 
Monitor laboratory work to ensure compliance with set standards.
 
Isolate, identify and prepare specimens for examination.
 
Use computers, computer-interfaced equipment, robotics or high-technology industrial applications to perform work duties.
 
Conduct research or assist in the conduct of research, including the collection of information and samples, such as blood, water, soil, plants and animals.
 
Set up, adjust, calibrate, clean, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory and field equipment.
 
Provide technical support and services for scientists and engineers working in fields such as agriculture, environmental science, resource management, biology, and health sciences.
 
Clean, maintain and prepare supplies and work areas.
 
Participate in the research, development, or manufacturing of medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations.
 
Conduct standardized biological, microbiological or biochemical tests and laboratory analyses to evaluate the quantity or quality of physical or chemical substances in food or other products.
 
Analyze experimental data and interpret results to write reports and summaries of findings.
 
Measure or weigh compounds and solutions for use in testing or animal feed.
 
Monitor and observe experiments, recording production and test data for evaluation by research personnel.
 
Examine animals and specimens to detect the presence of disease or other problems.
 
Conduct or supervise operational programs such as fish hatcheries, greenhouses and livestock production programs.
 
Feed livestock or laboratory animals.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Chemists
Benchmark Title: Biological Technicians
 
Important Knowledge Competencies Competency Description
Biology Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 
Chemistry Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 
Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 
English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 
Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Chemists
Benchmark Title: Biological Technicians
 
Important Skill Competencies Competency Description
Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
 
Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
 
Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
 
Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
 
Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
 
Active Learning Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
 
Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
 
Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
 
Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
 
Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
 
Systems Analysis Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
 
Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
 
Mathematics Using mathematics to solve problems.
 
Troubleshooting Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
 
Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
 
Operation Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
 
Quality Control Analysis Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Chemists
Benchmark Title: Biological Technicians
 
Important Ability Competencies Competency Description
Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
 
Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
 
Information Ordering The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
 
Selective Attention The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
 
Written Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
 
Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
 
Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
 
Category Flexibility The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
 
Speech Recognition The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
 
Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
 
Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
 
Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
 
Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
 
Fluency of Ideas The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
 
Mathematical Reasoning The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
 
Perceptual Speed The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
 
Originality The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
 
Flexibility of Closure The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
 
Arm-Hand Steadiness The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
 
Finger Dexterity The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
 
Visual Color Discrimination The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
 
Number Facility The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
 
Visualization The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
 
Far Vision The ability to see details at a distance.
 
Manual Dexterity The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Chemists
Benchmark Title: Biological Technicians
 
Tools/Technology Example Product Category
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat software Document management software
 
Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software Graphics or photo imaging software
 
BD Biosciences CellQuest Analytical or scientific software
 
BOXSHADE software Analytical or scientific software
 
ClustalW Analytical or scientific software
 
Corel WordPerfect software Word processing software
 
Database software Data base user interface and query software
 
Gene Codes Sequencher Analytical or scientific software
 
GeneRunner software Analytical or scientific software
 
Graphics software Graphics or photo imaging software
 
Harvard Graphics software Graphics or photo imaging software
 
IBM Lotus 1-2-3 Spreadsheet software
 
Laboratory information management system LIMS software Analytical or scientific software
 
MapInfo MapMarker Map creation software
 
Microsoft Access Data base user interface and query software
 
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software
 
Microsoft Office software Office suite software
 
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation software
 
Microsoft Project Project management software
 
Microsoft Word Word processing software
 
Phrap Analytical or scientific software
 
Phred Analytical or scientific software
 
PolyBayes software Analytical or scientific software
 
Primer3 software Analytical or scientific software
 
SAS software Analytical or scientific software
 
Statistical software Analytical or scientific software
 
Systat Software SigmaPlot Analytical or scientific software
 
Systat Software Table Curve Analytical or scientific software
 
Thomson EndNote Data base user interface and query software
 
Aerobic growth chambers Refrigerated and heated reach in environmental or growth chambers
 
Agitators Laboratory mixers
 
Amino acid analyzers Amino acid analyzers
 
Anaerobic growth chambers Anaerobic chamber
 
Analytical balances Analytical balances
 
Autoclaves Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
 
Automated cell counters Manual or electronic hematology differential cell counters
 
Automated microplate ELISA readers Microplate readers
 
Automated tissue/slide stainers Histological staining apparatus
 
Automatic pipetters Robotic or automated liquid handling systems
 
Balances Laboratory balances
 
Bioanalyzers Microbiology analyzers
 
Biological containment hoods Fume hoods or cupboards
 
Centrifuges Benchtop centrifuges
 
Conductivity meters Conductivity meters
 
Coulter counters Manual or electronic hematology differential cell counters
 
Cytofluorographs Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters
 
Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequencers Deoxyribonucleic sequence analyzers
 
Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA synthesizers Complementary deoxyribonucleic acid cDNA synthesis kits
 
Dissection microscopes Binocular light compound microscopes
 
Distillation equipment Bi distillation units
 
Drying ovens Drying cabinets or ovens
 
Electrophorators Electrophoresis system power supplies
 
Electrophoresis boxes Gel boxes
 
Flow cytometers Microbiology analyzers
 
Fluoride electrodes Ion selective electrode
 
Fluorometers Spectrofluorimeters or fluorimeters
 
Full-face respirators Respirators
 
Gas chromatographs GC Gas chromatographs
 
Gel chromatography equipment Gel filtration equipment
 
Gel imaging apparatus Transilluminators
 
Glass washers Laboratory washing machines
 
Hematology cell counters Manual or electronic hematology differential cell counters
 
High-voltage electrophoresis apparatus Instrumentation for capillary electrophoresis
 
Homogenizers Homogenizers
 
Hybridization ovens Hybridization ovens or incubators
 
Imaging systems Scanners
 
Incubator microscopes Incubator accessories
 
Incubators Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators
 
Inherit sequencing analysis systems Deoxyribonucleic sequence analyzers
 
Inoculating loops Microbiology inoculation loops or needles
 
Inverted microscopes Inverted microscopes
 
Laser printers Laser printers
 
Light/tissue culture microscopes Inverted microscopes
 
Liquid handling robots Robotic or automated liquid handling systems
 
Liquid nitrogen freezers Cryogenic or liquid nitrogen freezers
 
Microcentrifuges Microcentrifuges
 
Microplate readers Microplate readers
 
Microplate shakers Shaking incubators
 
Microplate washers Microplate washers
 
Multichannel pipetters Electronic multichannel pipetters
 
Notebook computers Notebook computers
 
Ovens Laboratory mechanical convection ovens
 
Paraffin embedding consoles Tissue embedding stations
 
Personal computers Personal computers
 
Petri dishes Petri plates or dishes
 
Polymerase chain reaction PCR equipment Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers
 
Polymerase chain reaction PCR thermocyclers Temperature cycling chambers or thermal cyclers
 
Protein sequencers Protein analyzers
 
Radioactive counters Beta gamma counters
 
Refrigerated centrifuges Refrigerated benchtop centrifuges
 
Robotic laboratory equipment Robotic or automated liquid handling systems
 
Spectrophotometers Spectrophotometers
 
Sterilizers Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
 
Stirring hotplates Stirring hotplates
 
Test tubes Multipurpose or general test tubes
 
Titration burets Laboratory burets
 
Ultracentrifuges Ultracentrifuges
 
Ultralow freezers Ultra cold or ultralow upright cabinets or freezers
 
Ultramicrotomes Microtomes
 
Ultrasonic cleaners Ultrasonic cleaning equipment
 
Ultraviolet water purification systems Ultra violet water purification units
 
Vacuum dehydration units Dehydrators
 
Volumetric glassware Volumetric pipettes
 
Water jacketed incubators Water jacketed single chamber three gas incubators
 
Waterbaths Water baths
 
pH meters pH meters
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Chemists
Benchmark Title: Biological Technicians
 
Prerequisite Qualification Category Education and Experience Level
Required Level of Education Bachelor's Degree
 
On-the-Job Training Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
 
On-Site or In-Plant Training Up to and including 1 month
 
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Chemists
Benchmark Title: Biological Technicians
 
Alternate Job Title(s)
Aquatic Scientist
Artificial Breeding Laboratory Technician
Artificial Breeding Technician
Artificial Inseminator
Babcock Tester
Bacteriology Lab Specialist
Bacteriology Research Assistant
Bacteriology Technician
Biochemistry Technician
Biological Aide
Biological Science Laboratory Technician
Biological Science Technician
Biological Sciences Technician
Biological Scientist
Biological Technician
Biologist Aide
Biology Laboratory Assistant
Biology Research Assistant
Biology Specimen Technician
Biotechnician
Biotechnologist
Botany Laboratory Assistant
Culture Media Laboratory Assistant
Cytogenetic Technologist
Cytology Laboratory Technician
Dairy Technologist
Downstream Biomanufacturing Technician
Environmental Technician
Exotic Plants Technician
Feed Research Aide
Fiber Technologist
Fisheries Biological Technician
Fowl Blood Tester
Game Technician
Herbarium Worker
Lab Supervisor
Lab Technologist
Laboratory Assistant
Laboratory Associate
Laboratory Technician
Laboratory Worker
Marine Fisheries Technician
Medical Lab Assistant
Medical Research Assistant
Medical Technologist
Microbiology Analyst
Microbiology Lab Assistant
Microbiology Quality Control Technician
Microbiology Technician
Molecular Lab Technologist
Molecular Research Technologist
Poultry Inseminator
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Research Specialist
Research Technician
Resource Biologist
Resource Biologist-Fisheries
Scientific Technician
Seed Analyst
Specimen Technician
Upstream Biomanufacturing Technician
Veterinary Laboratory Technician
Wildlife Biology Technician
Wildlife Technician
 
CompGeo Occupation Group: Engineering/Scientific
Job Family: Chemists
Benchmark Title: Biological Technicians
 
 
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