Biology laboratory assistant trainee
Not interested in pursuing a University degree? How about training as a biology laboratory technician instead?
What is it like to work as a biology laboratory technician?
As a biology lab technician, a large part of your work is in the lab. But before you are allowed to enter the lab, you have to put on personal protective equipment. This includes: Shoes, lab coat, safety goggles or gloves if necessary. At the beginning, you learn how to handle laboratory equipment and chemicals correctly and how to behave in the laboratory. You will then work in various specialist areas for research and diagnostics. Either according to standard operating procedures and protocols that have already been drawn up, or according to experimental procedures that you have planned yourself.
This includes: Preparation of buffers and media, microbiological investigations, working with cell cultures and learning chemical, biochemical, immunological and molecular biological working methods and techniques.
As soon as you leave the lab, you go back to your desk to analyze and discuss the data you have generated.
Another major area of activity for biology laboratory assistants is working with animals. In order to learn how to care for and handle rodents and the like, a stay of several weeks in an LMU animal stable is planned. This knowledge is necessary for admission to the final examination part 1.
With the knowledge you have acquired, you will be one of the few trainees who have the opportunity to work with laboratory animals after your training.
What is required for training as a biology laboratory technician?
To train as a biology laboratory technician, you need at least an intermediate school leaving certificate.You should also have an interest in scientific subjects and not be afraid of working with laboratory animals.
Our team is partly international, so a good knowledge of English would be desirable.
How does training as a biology laboratory technician work?
As a trainee at our department, you will work in our laboratories to solve a wide range of problems and carry out practical experiments. Of course, research work is an integral part of this.
For the knowledge that we are unable to impart, we cooperate with other public service institutions. The theoretical topics that are necessary for the practical work are taught in in-company training. Depending on the content, either face-to-face or virtually. The practical work is explained by experts in the respective specialist areas and carried out independently by the trainees. Both take place together with the trainers and trainees from the other institutes.
As this is a profession with dual training, there are an additional 13 weeks of block teaching per training year. All the theoretical background and a basic level of technical English are taught there. The responsible vocational school is the municipal vocational school for dental technology, chemistry, biology and drugstore professions (homepage: https://bs-zt-chem.musin.de/).
Of course, there is no training without an examination. This is conducted by the IHK Munich and Upper Bavaria. The final examination is divided into two parts. Part 1 of the final examination takes place at the end of the second year of training. After the regular training period of 3 ½ years, the final examination part 2 takes place. Both theory and practice are tested in both partial examinations.
After successfully completing the examination, you are a recognized biology laboratory technician and can work in all branches of industry and research.
What do you earn as a trainee biology lab technician?
The remuneration is regulated according to TVA-BBiG (from 01.11.2024, gross)
- 1st year of training: € 1,186.82
- 2nd year of training: € 1,240.96
- 3rd year of training: € 1,290.61
- 4th year of training: € 1,359.51
Do you have any questions about training as a biology lab technician at our department?
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