Natural Sciences Department Student Assistant

University of Alaska; Palmer, Northern (AK, KY); Hybrid; USD 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Matanuska-Susitna College in Palmer, Alaska seeks a student assistant for the 2026-2027 academic year to oversee and monitor open labs for Human Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology students. The role requires 18+ and the ability to work one evening per week.

The starting pay is $13.03 per hour, with up to 20 hours per week during the academic year. Eligibility includes 6 credits minimum and a 2.0 GPA, with BIOL A111/A112 preferred.

Qualifications

• Must maintain a minimum enrollment of 6 credits per term and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• Knowledge of science laboratory safety and enforcing safety in open labs.
• Willingness to support natural sciences faculty in grading and communicating about work completed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and monitor open labs for Human Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology.
• Enforce laboratory safety during open labs.
• Communicate progress to supervisor and respond to emails/phone calls promptly.
• Assist faculty with grading as needed.

Skills

Science lab safety

Lab supervision

Communication

Grading support

Education

Biology or Chemistry course completed (BIOL A111/A112 preferred)

Job description

"Opportunities start here" is more than a slogan at Matanuska-Susitna College (Mat-Su College); it is our mission. Our aim is to transform student aspirations into realities. Matanuska-Susitna College seeks applicants who possess a desire to help students succeed in reaching their goals.

Join us and help turn student aspirations into reality!

The Science Department at Mat-Su College is seeking a student assistant for the 2026-2027 Academic Year who is self-motivated, reliable, and able to accomplish assigned tasks to completion in a timely manner. The primary role of this position will be to oversee and monitor open labs for Human Anatomy and Physiology and Microbiology students. You must be able to work one evening during the week. Must be 18 years or older.

To thrive in this role, the student should be knowledgeable of science laboratory safety, be willing and able to enforce laboratory safety of students during open labs, be able to work on and accomplish assigned tasks with minimal to no supervision, communicate with supervisor on work completed and respond to emails/phone calls in a timely fashion, and have an ability and willingness to support the natural sciences faculty in grading.

Minimum Qualifications:

Student employee positions require maintaining a minimum enrollment of 6 credits or more within the University of Alaska System and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Student must be able to provide proof of having taken at least 1 class in Biology or Chemistry (completion of BIOL A111 or A112 preferred).

Must be 18 years or older.

Position Details:

This position is located on the Mat-Su College in Palmer, Alaska. This is a student assistant 2 position, with a starting pay rate of $13.03 hourly. Hours are limited to 20 per week maximum during instructional periods of the academic year.

This is a pooled position and applications are reviewed as needed. Submission of an application does not guarantee review or a job offer.

The University of Alaska (UA) reserves the right to require employees to work on-site at the UA facilities. Hybrid and remote work may be approved for employees based in Alaska at the University’s discretion. Remote work for employees based outside the State of Alaska may be approved only in exceptional circumstances or when required by the position’s job duties.

*To be eligible for this position, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without restriction. Applicants who now or may in the future require visa sponsorship to work in the United States are not eligible.

The University of Alaska (UA) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the applicant screening process. If you need assistance in completing this application or during any phase of the interview process, please contact UA Human Resources by phone at 907-450-8200.

The University of Alaska (www.alaska.edu) is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer and Educational Institution. The University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination (www.alaska.edu/nondiscrimination) against individuals on the basis of any legally protected status.

The successful applicant is required to complete a background check. Any offer of employment is contingent on the background check.

Your application for employment with the University of Alaska is subject to public disclosure under the Alaska Public Records Act.

All employees at the University of Alaska are expected to uphold the highest standards of ethics and professionalism when conducting or engaged in university business.

*Each university within the University of Alaska system publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report whichcontains information regarding campus safety and security including topics such as: campus law enforcement authority; crime reporting policies; campus alerts (Timely Warnings and Emergency Notifications); fire safety policies and procedures; programs to prevent dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; the procedures the University will follow when one of these crimes is reported; and other matters of importance related to security on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the three most recent calendar years regarding reported crimes that occurred on campus; in On-Campus Student Housing Facilities; in Noncampus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University or a recognized student organization; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also contains fire statistics for any fires occurring in an On-Campus Student Housing Facility during the three most recent calendar years.

Access to the reports is available at:

UAA:(Addresses Anchorage campus, Aviation Technology Complex, JBER - Elmendorf Extension, JBER - Richardson Extension, Kenai Peninsula College - Kachemak Bay campus, Kenai Peninsula College - Kenai River campus, Kodiak College, Kodiak High School Extension, Matanuska-Susitna College, Prince William Sound College, and Prince William Sound College - Cordova Extension)Online: https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/students/safety. Request a paper copy in person: UAA Police Department Office at Room 114 of Eugene Short Hall on the Anchorage campus / UAA Dean of Students Office at Room 122 of Rasmuson Hall on the Anchorage campus. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-786-1120 or [e-mail]/907-786-1214 or [e-mail].

UAF:(Addresses Fairbanks Campus, Bristol Bay Campus, Chukchi Campus, Community and Technical College, Kasitsna Bay Campus, Seward Marine Center, Tok Campus, Kuskokwim Campus, and Northwest Campus)Online: https://www.uaf.edu/orca/files/ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy in person: UAF Office of Rights, Compliance and Accountability on the 3rd Floor of Constitution Hall. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-474-7300 or [e-mail].

UAS:(Addresses the Juneau Auke Bay Campus, Juneau Technical Education Center, Sitka Campus, & Ketchikan Campus)Online: https://uas.alaska.edu/equity-and-compliance/docs/clery/UAS_ASFSR.pdf. Request a paper copy by mail: 907-796-6371 or emailing [e-mail].

This is a pooled position, which means that the position remains open over the entire academic year.