Assistant Researcher

The University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The Johnson lab in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas seeks 1–2 Assistant Researchers to support plant ecophysiology research, with responsibilities spanning general laboratory support and technical research tasks.

The initial one-year appointment offers a salary range of $41,800 to $45,800 plus benefits; travel to collaborating labs and field sites may be required. This on-site position is based in Lawrence, KS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Biological or Earth Sciences or 4 years of professional experience.
• Strong interest in plant ecophysiology and related Earth system processes.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• General laboratory support including purchasing, equipment upkeep, and recordkeeping.
• Technical research support across plant ecophysiology projects, including field work and data analysis.
• Dedicated time for professional development and career planning.

Skills

Problem solving

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences or Earth Sciences

High School Diploma or GED with 4 years experience

Tools

Dataloggers

Environmental sensors

Chlorophyll fluorescence

Liquid chromatography

Mass spectrometry

Job description

Position Overview

The Johnson lab within the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas is recruiting 1-2 candidates to fill Assistant Researcher positions supporting research in plant ecophysiology. The Johnson lab focuses on questions related to photosynthesis and respiration, ranging from how these processes work at a molecular level to how to monitor their aggregate global activity. We develop new instrumentation and methods, conduct both laboratory- and field-based studies, and use mathematical modeling for synthesis.

The responsibilities for this position combine (1) general laboratory support, ranging from purchasing, to maintenance of instruments and equipment, to recordkeeping, and (2) technical research support, including both independent and collaborative execution of experiments. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in plant ecophysiology; enthusiasm for learning new techniques for environmental, ecophysiological, and biochemical measurements; and the problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills required to successfully execute research projects.

The initial appointment will be for a period of one year, with the possibility for renewal depending on performance and funding. This is a regular unclassified professional staff position with a salary range of $41,800 to $45,800, depending on qualifications, and comprehensive benefits. It is an excellent opportunity for someone who has recently completed a BA or BS degree and is interested in gaining basic research experience in an exciting area that has many practical applications to social, economic, and environmental issues. This position requires the ability and enthusiasm for periodic regional, national, and international travel to collaborating laboratories and/or to field sites in support of research projects.

Job Description

50% - Contribute to General Laboratory Support Functions

• This component of the position will include a wide range of activities that sustain the basic functioning of our laboratory, such as: purchasing and receiving supplies, coordinating shipments of samples, installing and setting up equipment, performing routine maintenance and minor repairs on instruments, assisting with environmental health and safety compliance, and contributing to laboratory recordkeeping.

40% - Provide Technical Research Support to Individual Projects

• This component of the position will include involvement in all phases of execution of research projects, such as: plant propagation under controlled conditions and/or collection of plant samples in the field; characterization of environmental conditions in the lab and/or field; characterization of photosynthetic performance at the chloroplast, leaf, plant, or ecosystem level; characterization of photosynthetic pigments and proteins, at corresponding scales; maintenance of detailed project records; and analysis, visualization, and communication of research results.

10% - Engage in Professional Development Activities

• This position includes protected time that is to be dedicated to an individual’s educational and/or career development. The specific focus will depend on the individual, but may include activities such as: identifying and applying to graduate program and/or fellowships to support the next career stage; or identifying and participating in supplemental training activities to build specific skills/abilities relevant to the current career stage.

Position Requirements

This position will be fully on-site in the Johnson lab at Room 6002, Haworth Hall, Lawrence, KS.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of the Biological Sciences or Earth Sciences OR a High School Diploma/GED equivalency and 4 years of professional experience.
• A strong interest in plant ecophysiology and the role of physiological processes in the Earth system, as evidenced by previous educational and/or professional experiences.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills, as evidenced in application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with and/or interest in learning to work with dataloggers and environmental sensors, as well as instrumentation for chlorophyll fluorescence and trace gas measurements.
• Experience with and/or interest in learning techniques for quantitative analysis of photosynthetic pigments and proteins, such as liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Contact Information to Applicants

Dr. Johnson

[e-mail]

Additional Information

Advertised Salary Range: $41,800 - $45,800

Application Review Begins: Friday September 11, 2026

Anticipated Start Date: Monday September 14, 2026