Job Description

UC Davis

Laboratory Assistant (LAB AST 3)

Departmental Budgeted Salary or Pay Range: $26.79 - $29.13/Hour - commensurate with educational background and relevant working experience.

Under general supervision, handle animals, assist pathologists and technicians to collect, process and discard tissues obtained from animal necropsy. Perform data entry and record keeping, cleaning/disinfection/waste removal, and laboratory maintenance for necropsy facilities. Receive and accession pathology cases; perform specimen, media and biohazardous material receiving/ processing/routing; and biohazard waste management.

Apply By Date 11/26/2025

Minimum Qualifications - For full consideration, applicants are encouraged to upload license and/or certification if required of the position

• No minimum education required
• Experience working in a lab setting.
• Skills to work with biohazardous blood, dead animals, tissues, and to handle potentially infectious material.
• Skills to effectively shift priorities and prioritize a heavy workload to meet required deadlines, while providing attention to detail with a high level of accuracy.
• Interpersonal, customer service, and communication skills to interact effectively and professionally with a wide variety of individuals including CAHFS faculty and staff, clients, individuals from other university units, and government/outside agencies.
• Skills to learn diagnostic procedures and tests used in a diagnostic laboratory, appropriate sample types and sampling techniques for a variety of microbiologic, immunologic, histologic and clinical chemistry tests, and veterinary and medical terminology.
• Computer skills to quickly/accurately perform data entry into computer.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of diagnostic procedures and tests used in a diagnostic laboratory, as well as veterinary and medical terminology.
• Skills to learn computer programs designed for sample tracking, worksheet production, and workload reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• 40% - Specimen and Data Management
• 30% - Necropsy Facility Maintenance
• 30% - Necropsy Assistance

Department Overview

CAHFS provides California's livestock and poultry industries, and veterinary practitioners who serve them, with a full range of diagnostic laboratory services for disease control, enhancement of health management, and protection from diseases common to animal and humans. In meeting this need, the CAHFS also serves as the backbone of California's disease warning system through its animal disease surveillance program. The system consists of four laboratories currently located in Davis, Turlock, Tulare and San Bernardino. Funding for this program is provided through a contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and through revenue generated from user fees. An additional program, the Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, is funded through a contract with the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) and horse wagering monies, and provides full-service drug testing and a pharmacology research and development program.

Special Requirements - Please contact your recruiter with questions regarding which activities apply by position

This is a critical position, as defined by UC Policy and local procedures, and as such, employment is contingent upon clearing a criminal background check(s) and may include drug screening, medical evaluation clearance and functional capacity assessment

To view full job description and submit an on-line application visit UC Davis Career Opportunities at

Job ID# 82502

The University of California, Davis is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

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