How to become a biological technician
Official title: Biological technician
Also called: Bacteriology technician, Biochemistry technician, Biological specimen technician, Biology laboratory technician, Biotech laboratory technician, Marine biology technician, Microbiology technician, Nanobiotechnology technician, Tissue culture technician (non-plant), Bacteriology technician, Biology laboratory technician, Microbiology technician
Biological technician provides technical assistance in researching and analysing the relationship between living organisms and their environment. He/she sets up laboratory instruments and equipment, collects and analyses data for experiments and examines organic substances such as bodily fluids, drugs, plants and food. He/she also compiles reports and maintains laboratory stock.
Main tasks
- Assisting in designing, setting up and conducting experiments
- Setting up, calibrating, operating and maintaining laboratory instruments and equipment
- Collecting and preparing specimens and samples, chemical solutions and slides and growing cultures for use in experiments
- Performing routine field and laboratory tests
- Monitoring experiments to ensure adherence to correct laboratory quality control procedures and health and safety guidelines
- Making observations of tests, and analysing, calculating, recording and reporting test results using appropriate scientific methods
- Preserving, classifying and cataloguing specimens and samples
- Keeping detailed logs of work performed
Ways in
- Polytechnic or ITE: Polytechnic diploma. Related diplomas: Diploma in Biological Sciences (Republic Polytechnic); Diploma in Biologics & Process Technology (Nanyang Polytechnic). Peernovo matched these from course names; polytechnics do not publish which jobs each course leads to.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Related jobs
- Clinical research coordinator
- Horticultural technician
- Plant tissue culture technician
- Farming technician (animal production)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a biological technician?
Ways in include: Polytechnic diploma.
Will AI change the work of a biological technician?
Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026