Herpetology Undergraduate Collections Assistant - Student Hourly

Center for Public Partnerships & Research; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

The KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum is seeking a student hourly to assist with collections data management and accessioning. The role requires handling fluid-preserved specimens of amphibians and reptiles and supporting curators in maintaining the collection and associated records.

During the semester, the hourly must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours; summer terms have similar enrollment guidelines. Remote work is not allowed unless an exception is approved.

Qualifications

• Must be able to work a minimum of 4 hours per week, as demonstrated by availability in application materials.
• During the semester term the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours.
• Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students.
• This position requires the handling of fluid-preserved specimens of amphibians and reptiles.

Responsibilities

• 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-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.
• 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.

Skills

Biology interest

Biodiversity collections

Education

Enrollment in 6+ credit hours

Job description

Position Overview

The 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

• 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

• Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
• 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.

Contact Information to Applicants

Rafe Brown

[e-mail]

Advertised Salary Range

$15.00 per hour

Anticipated Start Date

Monday September 7, 2026