How to hire an animal biologist

How to hire an animal biologist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step animal biologist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an animal biologist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new animal biologist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The animal biologist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them an animal biologist to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire an animal biologist that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of animal biologists.

   Type of Animal Biologist	Description	Hourly rate
   Animal Biologist	Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments.	$19-44
   Laboratory Internship	A laboratory intern is responsible for assisting laboratory operations and perform examinations and experiments under the supervision of tenured laboratory staff. Laboratory interns shadow all the laboratory processes, document their observations, and conduct an in-depth analysis of the results... Show more	$12-23
   Research Laboratory Technician	Research laboratory technicians play a vital role in scientific laboratories. They perform varied duties and responsibilities, which include setting up, operating, and maintaining the laboratory equipment, assisting in laboratory-based research activities such as sampling, testing, and analyzing results, and providing technical support to the laboratory team members... Show more	$14-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Genotyping
   • Sops
   • Lab Equipment
   • Animal Studies

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage detailed GLP laboratory manual daily.
   • Project require review of existing environmental data, identification of permitting requirements, wetland identification/delineation and sensitive and endanger species issues.
   • Perform research in immunology and virology as a part of the vaccine development division; develop and validate bioassays.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your animal biologist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An animal biologist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, animal biologists' average salary in alabama is 50% less than in new hampshire.
   • Seniority. Entry-level animal biologists earn 56% less than senior-level animal biologists.
   • Certifications. An animal biologist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an animal biologist's salary.

   Average animal biologist salary

   $62,366yearly

   $29.98 hourly rate

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   Entry-level animal biologist salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing an animal biologist job description

   A good animal biologist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an animal biologist job description:

   Animal biologist job description example

   Kelly Government Solutions is a strategic supplier and business partner to the federal government and its key suppliers. Through our partnership with the National Institutes of Health, Kelly Government Solutions offers administrative, IT, engineering, scientific, and healthcare professionals the opportunity to work with the leading medical research center in the world. We are seeking a **Small Animal Biologist** at the National Institutes of Health in **Bethesda, MD**
   This is a long-term contract position which offers:
   
   - Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefit package
   
   - Optional health, vision, and dental plans
   
   - Vacation leave as well as 10 paid federal holidays and 401K plan.
   
   - Access to NIH's unparalleled resources and niche scientific initiatives
   
   **TASKS/SERVICES** . The contractor shall:
   
   1. Carry out molecular biological experiments, including extracting genomic DNA, performing PCR and gel electrophoresis, cloning DNA fragments and preparing plasmid DNA, generating high quality RNA using in vitro transcription.
   
   2. Develop and maintain a spreadsheet of animal breeding records; record lineage, genotype, birth, death and experimental use of each animal.
   
   3. Document all laboratory procedures, experiments and results; maintain and update laboratory notebooks and databases.
   
   4. Collect, review, research, and analyze large datasets; perform experiments, utilizing various statistical applications and methods; and interpret data, assemble data into figures, and enter data into a database.
   
   5. Collaborate with team members to determine, evaluate and discuss the progress of projects; point out problems and suggest solutions to problems or augmentation of experimental approaches.
   
   6. Coordinate husbandry, animal care and enrichment activities to maintain a clean, safe and regulatory compliant animal research program.
   
   7. Work with staff to maintain, breed, genotype and phenotype transgenic animal colony; maintain records of animal colony.
   
   8. Independently perform genotyping of animals.
   
   9. Set up animals to be available in numbers and at the time required.
   
   10. Develop and maintain a breeding database to record all animals in the breeding colony.
   
   11. Determine type and number of animals to order and start lab's colony of animals.
   
   12. Determine best type of breeding units to set up for lab needs, including but not limited to continuous pairs, harems, and timed-pregnancies.
   
   13. Manage and breed animal colonies; genotype animals and report genotyping results to staff.
   
   14. Maintain an extensive database repository that tracks the life and health cycles of the entire transgenic colony, including animal breeding, health, and housing areas.
   
   15. Work with staff to maintain, breed, genotype and phenotype transgenic animal colony; maintain records of animal colony.
   
   16. Handle, dissect and euthanize animals.
   
   17. Prepare animals for surgery and ensure proper disposal of animal carcasses.
   
   18. Maintain animal lines in transgenic facilities.
   
   19. Perform experiments with primary tissues and cells in culture, utilizing sterile techniques.
   
   20. Harvest and collect animal embryos, tissues, and organs.
   
   21. Perform a variety of specialized tissue fixation, embedding, sectioning and staining techniques.
   
   22. Manage genotyping of samples of transgenic animals.
   
   23. Maintain and culture human and animal cancer cell lines for experiments.
   
   24. Perform analysis of animal tissues; prepare frozen slices and paraffin sections, appropriately stained to demonstrate normal and abnormal structures.
   
   25. Perform PCR-based genotyping.
   
   26. Perform a variety of specialized tissue fixation, embedding, sectioning and staining techniques.
   
   27. Perform genomic DNA preparation, genotyping and other analyses of animal tissues using DNA extraction and PCR.
   
   28. Perform tissue and cell culture; use sterile technique.
   
   29. Perform standard molecular biology techniques, including, but not limited to, cloning, in situ hybridization and qPCR.
   
   30. Maintain cell lines and perform basic cell culture assays, including, but not limited to, transfection and immunocytochemistry.
   
   31. Perform light and confocal microscopy.
   
   32. Perform apoptosis assays, qtr.-PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and molecular cloning techniques.
   
   33. Work with staff to process tissue for immunohistochemistry.
   
   34. Perform Western Blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.
   
   35. Isolate and purify nucleic acid and proteins from tissue culture samples.
   
   36. Perform molecular biology and cloning techniques, tissue histochemistry and immunohistochemistry.
   
   37. Update and maintain laboratory notebooks and databases; collect, analyze and interpret data.
   
   38. Perform quantitative analysis; data analysis, figure preparation, and image acquisition; maintain complete and detailed records of all experiments.
   
   39. Collect, organize and record experimental data for publication and future reference by others.
   
   40. Analyze and interpret scientific data from animal cell lines.
   
   41. Collate, edit and archive electronic and paper laboratory files, notebooks and databases.
   
   42. Analyze and catalog imaging data from molecular biology and in vitro tissue culture assays.
   
   43. Maintain records of experimental results; work with staff to analyze and interpret data; prepare summaries of laboratory findings.
   
   44. Perform computer analysis and use computer software to prepare images
   
   45. Prepare abstracts and present posters.
   
   46. Prepare reports and manuscripts based on experimental results.
   
   47. Participate and collaborate in the preparation of scientific publications for peer reviewed journals based on the results.
   
   48. Document information on procedures, modifications and methods for input into final publication and presentations of findings at meetings.
   
   49. Work with staff on the preparation of data and images for use in research presentations and publications.
   
   50. Write and edit drafts for journal submission; read manuscript drafts of other laboratory members.
   
   51. Compile, write and present scientific data in conferences; write articles.
   
   52. Edit and write research papers and protocols.
   
   53. Work with staff on the modification of laboratory protocols and experiments based on literature findings.
   
   54. Search and review literature related to project; summarize and evaluate findings.
   
   55. Participate in developing and performing experiments, organizing protocols and performing technical trouble-shooting.
   
   56. Locate and review the literature pertinent to projects to identify the most applicable protocols and methods; perform experiments in accordance with protocols.
   
   **REQUIREMENTS** . The contractor must have:
   
   1. Master's degree in Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology or a related discipline; three (3) years of specialized experience plus a Bachelor's degree is equivalent to a Master's degree
   
   2. Minimum of 8-10 years of biology or related experience.
   
   3. Expertise in molecular biology techniques
   
   4. Knowledge of maintaining accurate and detailed records.
   
   5. Knowledge of proper laboratory disposal methods and safety procedures
   
   6. Strong expertise in PCR, cloning, production of recombinant proteins, protein detection methods, cell culture techniques, mouse breeding and genotyping
   
   7. Strong presentation, self-motivational, communication, problem solving and organizational skills
   
   8. Outstanding inter-personal and teamwork skills
   
   9. Strong communications skills, both oral and written
   
   10. Experience in Software such as: Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, Excel, Outlook).
   
   **PLEASE APPLY ONLINE**
   
   When you apply, please know a Kelly Government Solutions Recruiter will review your resume and will contact you directly, if your skills and experience match the requirements of this position; a full job description can be made available at that time.
   
   Due to the high volume of inquiries, we regret that we cannot accept phone calls. Even if you aren't contacted for this position, you are still part of our talent network. All Kelly recruiters have access to your profile, which expands your opportunities even further.
   
   As a specialty talent company, Kelly is committed to doing the right thing for our talent and clients. We stand up for equity, inclusion, fair treatment, and opportunity for all as these build the foundation of our Talent Promise. With a focus on safety, value, well-being, investment, and opportunity, Kelly's Talent Promise confirms our commitment to those in search of a better way to work and live and to help discover what's next.
   
   It is obvious things are different than they were just a few months ago. Kelly is at the forefront of ensuring the safety of our employees in this new working environment. Be well and stay strong.
   
   **You should know:** Your safety matters! Vaccination against COVID-19 may be a requirement for this job in compliance with current client and governmental policies. A Kelly recruiter will confirm and share more details with you during the interview process.
   
   **Why Kelly** ** ** **Government Solutions?**
   
   Looking to connect with premier government agencies or the top 25 federal government contractors? Kelly Government Solutions partners with these organizations to create expert talent solutions that solve the world's most critical challenges. We offer a variety of full-time, project (SOW), seasonal, and surge support opportunities in science, engineering, technology, professional, and administrative support roles. Our experts will connect you to the opportunity that fits your schedule and interests and handle the details of transferring and processing all levels of security clearances. It's just another way we make the job search work for you.
   
   **About Kelly** ** **
   
   At Kelly, we're always thinking about what's next and advising job seekers on new ways of working to reach their full potential. In fact, we're a leading advocate for temporary/nontraditional workstyles, because we believe they allow flexibility and tremendous growth opportunities that enable a better way to work and live (plus, did we mention we provide a ton of benefits ?). Connecting great people with great companies is what we do best, and our employment opportunities span a wide variety of workstyles, skill levels, and industries around the world.
   
   Kelly Services is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome, value, and embrace diversity at all levels and are committed to building a team that is inclusive of a variety of backgrounds, communities, perspectives, and abilities. At Kelly, we believe that the more inclusive we are, the better services we can provide. Requests for accommodation related to our application process can be directed to Kelly's Human Resource Knowledge Center.
   Kelly complies with the requirements of California's state and local Fair Chance laws. A conviction does not automatically bar individuals from employment.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right animal biologist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with animal biologists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit animal biologists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your animal biologist job on Zippia to find and recruit animal biologist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting animal biologists requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new animal biologist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the animal biologist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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