{"schemaVersion":"1.0","exportedAt":"2026-05-15T12:40:49.824Z","occupation":{"soc":"19-4021.00","title":"Biological Technicians","group":"Life, Physical & Social Science","sector":"54","jobZone":4,"jobZoneInferred":false},"framework":{"version":null,"description":"Assist biological and medical scientists. 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.","contextCovered":"Academic, government, and biotech research labs; tissue culture, microbiology, molecular biology, animal-care support; clinical-research and field-support roles.","levels":{"emerging":{"label":"Emerging","statements":["Lab glassware, pipettes, and balances — use accurately under a senior technician's review in a routine bench setting.","Reagent prep and aliquoting — perform per the lab's standard operating procedures.","PPE, biosafety, and chemical-hygiene practice — apply consistently at BSL-2.","Sample receiving, labeling, and logging — maintain accurately across daily intake.","Standard assays (PCR setup, ELISA, plate reading) — run per SOP on assigned projects.","Cell-culture maintenance (passaging, feeding) — perform on standard lines under a scientist's review.","Animal-care basics (cage changes, observations) — conduct per IACUC protocol with veterinary oversight.","Instrument logs and maintenance schedules — keep current on assigned equipment.","Lab safety incidents and near-misses — recognize and report to a supervisor.","Routine data entry into LIMS or notebooks — complete daily under review."]},"developing":{"label":"Developing","statements":["Standard molecular and biochemistry workflows — execute independently from sample receipt through reporting.","Method troubleshooting on routine assays — perform with documented checklists in a research lab.","Cell-line authentication and mycoplasma testing — schedule and perform on the lab's portfolio.","Equipment maintenance (autoclaves, biosafety cabinets, microscopes) — own routine PM on assigned instruments.","Junior technicians and interns — train on safety, technique, and documentation.","Inventory and reagent purchasing — manage at task level under a lab manager's review.","Animal handling (rodents, zebrafish) for routine procedures — perform per protocol with documentation.","Field collection and sample preservation — conduct on standard ecology or genomics projects.","Standard imaging (light, fluorescence microscopy) — acquire and annotate per a defined SOP.","Project schedules and assay queues — manage in coordination with the lab's PIs."]},"proficient":{"label":"Proficient","statements":["End-to-end workflow ownership (NGS, flow cytometry, complex animal studies) — lead within a research lab.","Method validation and SOP authoring — produce for the lab's recurring techniques.","Lab safety officer or biosafety designee — serve with documented institutional responsibilities.","Quality and reproducibility audits — conduct across recurring assays and projects.","Senior technicians and rotation students — supervise across a small team.","Procurement, capital-equipment specs, and vendor management — lead with scientist input.","Manuscript-grade data packages — prepare with figures and methods sections.","Cross-lab method transfers and core-facility liaison — manage with documented hand-offs.","IACUC and IBC protocol amendments — author with PI sign-off.","Continuous-improvement programs — lead with measurable outcomes."]},"advanced":{"label":"Advanced","statements":["Lab manager or technical-operations lead role — set direction across staff, equipment, and budget.","Cross-PI cores and shared facilities — build and steward for an institute or department.","Capital-equipment strategy and grant-funded acquisitions — author with PIs at million-dollar scale.","Workforce development and certification programs — design with HR and academic partners.","Institutional safety culture and compliance — advance through committee leadership.","Talent pipelines from community colleges and undergraduate programs — build with measurable retention.","Major audits and inspections (USDA, OLAW, EHS) — lead at institutional level.","Vendor and consortium negotiations — conduct for shared-services contracts.","Recognition and retention programs for technical staff — institutionalize with measurable outcomes.","Legacy mentorship and field-shaping technician training — contribute through state and national programs."]}}},"sources":{"onet":"v30.2 (CC BY 4.0)","crosswalk":"https://skillscrosswalk.com","generator":"LER.me"},"attribution":"© EBSCOed"}