About this role
Position Overview
The student will work closely with technicians, graduate students, and postdocs in the Bever/Schultz lab to assist in plant and microbial ecology research. The student will contribute to multiple greenhouse experiments by performing a variety of greenhouse and lab tasks, such as maintaining and measuring plants, harvesting greenhouse plants, and experimental cleanup. The ideal student will work varying hours during the spring/fall semesters based on their availability and the lab’s research needs.
This position requires the willingness and ability to work in a greenhouse environment during potentially extreme temperature conditions.
Job Description
40% - Maintaining and measuring greenhouse plants (e.g. plant height and pest control).
30% - Harvesting and processing plants from greenhouse experiments (e.g. root washing and weighing).
10% - Experimental set up and clean up (e.g. washing pots and sterilizing equipment).
10% - Aiding in laboratory processing (e.g. staining and mounting roots for microscopy, spore extractions, and other microbial methods).
10% - Entering data and helping with field work.
Required Qualifications
- Professional experience which required attention to detail and great time management skills, as evidenced by application materials.
- Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and independently, as evidenced by application materials.
Preferred Qualifications
- Coursework in biology, ecology, environmental science or related subjects.
- Experience working or doing strenuous physical activity indoors and outdoors, as evidenced by application materials.
- Experience with growing plants in greenhouses, as evidenced by application materials.
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must:
- (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or
- (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or
- (3) be enrolled in summer session or
- (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester.
Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Employment Conditions
- (1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
- (2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
Additional Candidate Instruction
In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:
- Cover letter
- Resume
To ensure consideration, apply before the application review starts on Monday, 11/23/2026. A review of applications will continue and is ongoing until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Ashley Bowman [email protected]
Work Schedule
20 hours max weekly during the academic year; 40 hours max weekly during the summer.
Flexible during the academic year; M-F during the summer with start/end times varying dependent on weather conditions.
Disclaimer
The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and is the Title IX coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for Civil Rights and Title IX, [email protected], Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY.