Herpetology Undergraduate Collections Assistant - Student Hourly

The University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Kansas' Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum is seeking a student hourly to assist with collections management and data handling. The role focuses 50% on maintaining and digitizing fluid-preserved amphibian and reptile specimens and 50% on acquiring and preparing specimens for accessioning.

The position requires a minimum of 4 hours per week and enrollment in at least 6 credit hours during the semester. Remote work is not available; on-site duties in Lawrence, KS.

Qualifications

• Interest in Biology and Biodiversity Collections.

Responsibilities

• Assist Curators to ensure long-term integrity and preservation of the physical collections and storage environment.
• Monitor status and organization of fluid, tissue, and dry collections.
• Maintain collection database and digitize specimen data.
• Process specimen loans, exchanges, and gifts with records.
• Participate in annual reviews of loans and recalls.

Skills

Biology interest

Job description

Position Overview

Position OverviewThe mission of the KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum is to study past and present life on Earth to educate, engage, and inspire. Underlying our mission are the following values to which we are committed: education, excellence, respect, science, and transparency.

The ideal candidate will have an interest in Biology and Biodiversity Collections.

This position requires the handling of fluid-preserved specimens of amphibians and reptiles.

Job Description

50% - Collections & Data Management

• Assist Curators to ensure long-term integrity and preservation of the physical collections, associated data, and collection-storage environment.


• Participate in the monitoring of status and organization of the fluid, tissue, and dry collections.


• Help maintain collection database; digitize specimen data, records, and information.


• Maintain collection-care protocols


• Process specimen loans, exchanges, and gifts; maintain appropriate digital records of these activities.


• Participate in annual reviews of outstanding specimen loans, specimen return reminders and recalls of overdue loans.

50% - Collection Acquisition

• Work with Curators to organize and prepare specimens to be accessioned and cataloged in the collection.


• Work with Curators on the staging of newly accessioned specimens and the digital capture of associated data for their integration into the collection and collection database, respectively.

Required Qualifications

1. Must be able to work minimum of 4 hours per week, as demonstrated by availability in 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).

This position requires the handling of fluid-preserved specimens of amphibians and reptiles.

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.

Advertised Salary Range$15.00 per hour

Anticipated Start DateMonday September 7, 2026