ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Preclinical Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

University of Michigan

RESEARCH FELLOW

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

Lead optimization, in vitro preclinical studies and clinical pharmacokinetic analysis. * In-vivo animal PK study samples analysis by working with animal team. * Targeted metabolomics studies for ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsPreclinical JobsPreclinical Jobs in Michigan

Preclinical information

See Michigan salary details

$24.8K

$66.8K

$119.8K

How much do preclinical jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for preclinical in Michigan is $66,770.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43,600.00 and $85,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a preclinical job?

Preclinical jobs are roles within the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries that focus on the research and testing of new drugs, therapies, or medical devices before they reach human clinical trials. These positions often involve laboratory work, animal studies, data analysis, and regulatory documentation to assess the safety and efficacy of a product. Professionals in preclinical roles may include research scientists, lab technicians, toxicologists, and pharmacologists. Their work is crucial in ensuring that only safe and effective candidates move forward to human testing.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in preclinical research, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in preclinical research often face challenges such as managing strict timelines for experiments, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, and handling complex data analysis. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams—such as toxicologists, pharmacologists, and regulatory affairs specialists—helps ensure that studies meet both scientific and compliance requirements. Effective communication, meticulous documentation, and continuous learning about evolving regulations are key strategies to overcome these challenges and contribute to successful drug development.

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

To thrive as a Preclinical Scientist, you need a solid background in biology, pharmacology, or related sciences, often supported by a bachelor's or advanced degree in these fields. Familiarity with laboratory techniques, animal models, regulatory guidelines, and data analysis software is essential. Attention to detail, critical thinking, and strong teamwork skills help you excel in managing experiments and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. These competencies are vital for ensuring rigorous, ethical research and generating reliable data that drive drug development forward.

What is the difference between Preclinical vs Clinical Research Associate?

AspectPreclinicalClinical Research Associate
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in life sciences, laboratory skillsDegree in health sciences, clinical trial knowledge
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research facilitiesHospitals, clinics, trial sites
Employer & Industry UsagePharmaceutical companies, biotech firmsClinical trial organizations, pharma companies
Common Search & ComparisonPreclinical vs Clinical Research Associate

Preclinical roles focus on laboratory research and testing in labs, while Clinical Research Associates oversee clinical trials involving human participants. Both roles are essential in drug development but differ in environment, responsibilities, and required credentials.

What are popular job titles related to Preclinical jobs in Michigan?

For Preclinical jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Preclinical jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Preclinical jobs in Michigan are:

Preclinical jobs near you
Infographic showing various Preclinical job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 7% Part Time, 2% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $66,770 per year, or $32.1 per hour.

Preclinical Autopsy Technician - 2nd Shift

Charles River Laboratories, Inc.

Mattawan, MI • On-site

$20/hr

Full-time, Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 24 days ago

Charles River Laboratories rating

8.4

Company rating: 8.4 out of 10

Based on 94 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

23rd of 86 rated pharmaceutical

Job description

For 75 years, Charles River employees have worked together to assist in the discovery, development and safe manufacture of new drug therapies. When you join our family, you will have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people across the globe. Whether your background is in life sciences, finance, IT, sales or another area, your skills will play an important role in the work we perform. In return, we’ll help you build a career that you can feel passionate about.

Job Overview

We are seeking a Technician I – Necropsy for our 2nd Shift Pathology Services Team in Mattawan MI.

A Technician I – Necropsy is in training to perform and become proficient in on-boarding skills, procedures, and cooperating in a team environment. The technician is learning basic skills required to conduct a study, which may include animal handling, sedation; animal procedures including dissection; collection of samples and weights; laboratory preparation, set up and cleaning; preparation of laboratory solutions. The technician is working under close supervision to gain proficiency.

The pay for this position is $20/hr + 10% shift differential. Please note that salaries vary within the range based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, certifications, and location.

The work schedule for this role is: Monday - Friday 12:00PM to 8:30PM with overtime, as necessary. 

Job Description

Performs euthanasia and post-mortem examination of animals, including the removal, processing, and preserving of organs for microscopic evaluation by a veterinary pathologist.

  • Ensure good welfare and humane care for all animals worked with through gentle, positive human-animal interactions
  • Train in on-boarding skills which may include animal handling, sedation; animal procedures including dissection; collection of samples and weights; laboratory preparation, set up and cleaning; preparation of laboratory solutions. Specific skills will be based on each area’s training plan and business needs.
  • Collect, document, review, and verify data on forms, or in electronic data capture systems.
  • Review documentation of functions performed as part of quality control requirements.
  • Use and maintain instrumentation and equipment.
  • Learn and know anatomic terms
  • Receive, track, and prepare samples or materials, as required for department.
  • Perform all other related duties as assigned.
Physical Requirements
  • Lift/move up to 20 pounds regularly, possibly over the head.
  • Stand for extended periods of time.
  • Walk long distances across the facility on concrete floors.
  • Remain seated for extended periods of time.
  • Utilize meticulous fine-motor skills.
  • Work while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Minimum Requirements
  • Education: High school diploma or General Education Degree (G.E.D.) required. Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or equivalent in a biological science, preferred.
  • Experience: No previous experience required.
  • Certification/Licensure: None, unless required by local government.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities to achieve goals.
  • Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite), commensurate with essential functions, including the ability to learn a validated system.
  • Ability to ensure that a safe working environment is maintained by observing all safety procedures and working methods by making proper use of protective clothing and equipment, and by reading, understanding, and following all safety documents issued or notified of.
  • Ability to ensure the integrity of the studies and fulfill the regulatory agencies requirements by performing the activities according to the Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Business Operating Procedures (BOP) and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) rules.
  • Ability to work extended hours beyond normal work schedule to include, but not limited to evenings, weekends, extended shifts, and/or extra shifts, sometimes on short notice.
  • Ability to work under specific time constraints.
  • Must be authorized to work in the United States without a sponsor visa, now or in the future.

About Safety Assessment
Charles River is committed to helping our partners expedite their preclinical drug development with exceptional safety assessment services, state-of-the-art facilities and expert regulatory guidance. From individual specialty toxicology and IND enabling studies to tailored packages and total laboratory support, our deeply experienced team can design and execute programs that anticipate challenges and avoid roadblocks for a smooth, efficient journey to market.  Each year approximately 300 investigational new drug (IND) programs are conducted in our Safety Assessment facilities.


About Charles River
Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients’ clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market.

With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in over 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client’s unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world.

At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people’s lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly worked on 80% of the drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the past five years.

We’re committed to providing benefits that elevate your quality of life.  Based on your position these may include:  bonus/incentives based on performance, 401K, paid time off, stock purchase program, Health and wellness coverage, employee and family wellbeing support programs, and work life balance flexibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Charles River is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, family status, pregnancy, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

It is unlawful in some states (including Massachusetts) to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you are interested in applying to Charles River Laboratories and need special assistance or an accommodation due to a disability to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the resume submission process, please contact a member of our Human Resources team by sending an e-mail message to crrecruitment_US@crl.com. This contact is for accommodation requests for individuals with disabilities only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.

For more information, please visit www.criver.com.

What Charles River Laboratories employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Charles River logo

About Charles River

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Charles River is an early-stage contract research organization (CRO). We have built upon our foundation of laboratory animal medicine and science to develop a diverse portfolio of discovery and safety assessment services, both Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and non-GLP, to support clients from target identification through preclinical development. Charles River also provides a suite of products and services to support our clients' clinical laboratory testing needs and manufacturing activities. Utilizing this broad portfolio of products and services enables our clients to create a more flexible drug development model, which reduces their costs, enhances their productivity and effectiveness to increase speed to market. With over 20,000 employees within 110 facilities in 20 countries around the globe, we are strategically positioned to coordinate worldwide resources and apply multidisciplinary perspectives in resolving our client's unique challenges. Our client base includes global pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, government agencies and hospitals and academic institutions around the world. At Charles River, we are passionate about our role in improving the quality of people's lives. Our mission, our excellent science and our strong sense of purpose guide us in all that we do, and we approach each day with the knowledge that our work helps to improve the health and well-being of many across the globe. We have proudly supported the development of 86% of the drugs approved by the FDA in 2021.

Industry

Scientific research and development services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Wilmington, MA, US

Year founded

1947

View All Charles River Jobs

Apply