Laboratory technician

You'd do tests, research and investigations and support scientists and their research. You could work in different areas such as forensic science, scientific analysis, the health service, responding to climate change and in education.

You might work to diagnose diseases, measure levels of pollution or help to develop new products. You might work with specialised techniques such as ways of treating infertility.

Your tasks might include:

• setting up experiments or investigations

• doing risk assessments for lab activities

• collecting and analysing samples

• preparing solutions, cultures or specimens

• analysing samples

• recording and presenting data

• ordering and controlling stock

• disposing of chemicals and waste products in a safe way

• making sure that equipment is clean and in good working order.

If you work in education, you'd also set up equipment and demonstrate experiments.

You’d need to have a good awareness of health and safety regulations to work safely.

Your team would include scientists and other technicians. With experience you may also supervise lab support workers or junior technicians.

In this job you could be doing work to help the environment. You could:  

• test environmental samples for pollution levels 

• follow green practices such as disposing of chemicals in a way that safeguards the environment 

Find out more about green jobs. 

• Science Career Pathways - Introduction to science careers from Cogent, the skills body for science industries