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Lab Rats Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Preclinical Lab Technician

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$22.50 - $29.75/hr

Handle rodents (mice and rats) for experimental procedures in compliance with protocols * Assist ... a lab technician with at least 1 year of industry experience. Regardless of career level, you ...

Preclinical Lab Technician

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$22.50 - $29.75/hr

Handle rodents (mice and rats) for experimental procedures in compliance with protocols * Assist ... a lab technician with at least 1 year of industry experience. Regardless of career level, you ...

... lab members, promoting a positive and collaborative research environment. Desired Skills and Experience: * Minimum 6+ years of hands-on experience conducting in vivo research with mice or rats. * B.S ...

Lab Rats information

See California salary details

$9

$24

$44

How much do lab rats jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for lab rats in California is $24.92, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $27.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Lab Rats vs Laboratory Technicians?

AspectLab RatsLaboratory Technicians
CredentialsTypically no formal credentials requiredAssociate's or Bachelor's degree in a related field
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, experimental settingsClinical, medical, or research laboratories
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, biotech startupsHospitals, diagnostic labs, research facilities
Common Search & ComparisonOften compared for experimental rolesCompared for technical, diagnostic work

Lab Rats are typically used in experimental or research settings with minimal formal credentials, while Laboratory Technicians usually hold formal education and work in clinical or diagnostic labs. Both roles operate within laboratory environments but serve different functions and require different qualifications.

What are Lab Rats?

In the context of employment, 'Lab Rats' typically refers to individuals who work or volunteer in laboratories, often assisting with experiments, research, or testing. They may be students, technicians, or junior researchers gaining hands-on experience with scientific procedures and equipment. Sometimes, 'lab rat' is also used informally to describe someone who spends a great deal of time in a laboratory environment. Their responsibilities can range from preparing samples to recording data and maintaining lab equipment. This role is essential for supporting scientific discoveries and ensuring experiments are conducted accurately and safely.

What are some common challenges faced by laboratory technicians in a research environment?

Laboratory technicians often encounter challenges such as maintaining accuracy under tight deadlines, managing multiple experiments simultaneously, and adapting quickly to new protocols or technologies. Working in a research environment also requires strict adherence to safety and quality control standards, which can be demanding. Effective communication with researchers and team members is essential to ensure smooth workflow and reliable results.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Laboratory Technician, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Laboratory Technician, you need a solid understanding of laboratory procedures, scientific principles, and safety protocols, typically supported by a degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, data analysis software, and adherence to regulatory standards such as GLP is essential. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and effective communication set top performers apart in this role. These skills ensure accurate experimental results, maintain safety, and support productive collaboration within scientific teams.
What cities in California are hiring for Lab Rats jobs? Cities in California with the most Lab Rats job openings:
Preclinical Lab Technician

Preclinical Lab Technician

Nudge

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$22.50 - $29.75/hr

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

About Nudge

At Nudge, our mission is to develop the best technology for interfacing with the brain to improve people's lives. We're starting with an approach that we believe can help the most people the fastest, and also allow us to learn as much about the brain as possible: developing a non-invasive, ultrasound-based device that can stimulate and image the brain at high resolution and depth. This is a vertically integrated effort building cutting-edge hardware, software, and research capabilities to create products that can benefit millions โ€” and eventually billions โ€” of people.

To succeed, we need to assemble world-class teams across everything we do. We hire people who are exceptional at their craft, believe hard things are worth doing, and execute relentlessly โ€” people who expect the highest levels of both rigor and integrity from each other.

About the role

Weโ€™re looking for a Lab Technician to support the execution of preclinical experiments at Nudge, focused on understanding the effects and mechanisms of focused ultrasound on the brain. Youโ€™ll work alongside our research scientists across in vivo and in vitro work โ€” handling animals, maintaining cell cultures, building and preparing experimental setups, processing tissue, collecting data, and ensuring experiments run smoothly.

As a lab technician at Nudge, you will:

  • Handle rodents (mice and rats) for experimental procedures in compliance with protocols

  • Assist with in vivo procedures including animal preparation, positioning, anesthesia monitoring, and ultrasound delivery

  • Assist with rodent perfusions, brain extraction, and tissue collection for downstream histological and molecular analysis

  • Assist with tissue processing, embedding, sectioning, and basic staining (H&E, IHC)

  • Maintain and support in vitro cell culture experiments, including plating, passaging, treatment application, and cell-based assays

  • Design and build custom tools to support experimental setups and improve workflow efficiency

About you

We are looking for a lab technician with at least 1 year of industry experience. Regardless of career level, you should have:

  • Hands-on experience working in a preclinical or animal research laboratory

  • Experience handling rodents (mice and/or rats) and familiarity with basic in vivo techniques (dosing, anesthesia, perfusion, tissue harvest)

  • Familiarity with sterile cell culture technique

  • Comfort building things with your hands โ€” fabricating simple fixtures, adapting equipment, and solving practical problems in the lab

  • A bachelorโ€™s degree in biology, neuroscience, or a related field, preferred

  • High integrity and strong professional judgment