Apprenticeship as an animal keeper in the clinic and research sector
- Research group
- Core Facility of Comparative Medicine
- Hiring date
- 01.09.2026
- Time limit
- 3 years
- Trial period
- 3 months
- Payment
- according to TVAöD
- Application deadline
- 11/28/2025
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, based in Braunschweig, is a member of the Helmholtz Association and conducts cutting-edge research in the field of infectious diseases. Our scientists develop novel methods and strategies to combat infectious diseases more quickly and effectively. Our common goal is to develop novel approaches to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases. Our research focuses on bacterial and viral pathogens, their interaction with the human immune system, and new effective drugs and vaccines.
As a apprentice with us, you will learn about the various areas of our animal management. You will mainly work with small rodents. To expand your knowledge and experience, you will learn how to handle other laboratory animals during internships lasting several weeks with our cooperation partners in the surrounding area. You will learn how to properly care for, maintain, and breed animals. You will be responsible for animal house hygiene and determining the health status of our animals. We place great importance on treating our laboratory animals with respect and responsibility.
Tasks
- Animal welfare and legal regulations
- Care, breeding, and handling of laboratory animals
- Assistance in the preparation and realization of studies
operations - Cleaning and disinfection of animal housing systems
- Documentation and evaluation of experimental procedures and breeding results in accordance with animal welfare legislation
Recognition of the animals' state of health - Assistance with veterinary examinations, treatments, and minor
Prerequisites
- At least a qualified secondary school diploma
- Good grades in science subjects
- High degree of reliability and sense of responsibility
- Open-mindedness and skill in dealing with animals
- Willingness to work with animals in experiments
- Good physical stamina and no allergies to rodents or animal hair
- Ability to work in a team
- Basic oral and written knowledge of English
Working hours
39-hour week
The training period is 3 years. Classroom instruction takes place at the Justus-von-Liebig School in Hanover.
We offer you:
- An attractive and varied job in a future-oriented research institute with an international environment at the Science Campus South in Braunschweig.
- The salary is based on the collective agreement for trainees in the public sector
- 30 days of paid vacation.
- 39-hour work week.
- Additional training opportunities.
- A corporate culture that values and promotes equal opportunities
- A family office to support family and career, as well as offers for improved childcare, e.g. during the holidays
- Interesting additional benefits of public sector employment
- Possibility of an employer subsidy for the Jobticket
Given equal professional qualifications, severely disabled persons will be given preference. To protect your rights, we ask you to clearly indicate any severe disability in your cover letter or resume. The HZI is actively committed to equality, diversity, and integration. For this reason, the HZI pursues the goal of professional equality between women and men.
How to apply:
When sending us your application documents, please confirm that you have read our privacy policy and that you agree to the processing of your personal data. Please use the text module in our privacy policy for this purpose. Without these declarations we cannot consider or process your application and will immediately delete any application documents already received after the application deadline.
Please include a cover letter, resume, (employment) references, certificates, and (if available) work samples or reference projects with your application materials. Please refrain from sending a photo.
Please send your complete application, quoting the reference number 007/2025, to the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research GmbH, Human Resources Department, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany or by e-mail. If you send your application in electronic form, please provide a summary in one single (1) pdf document.
We look forward to receiving your application!
