Research Technician

Montgomery County Maryland; Manhattan (KS); On-site; USD 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

The Grassland Arthropod Ecology Lab at Kansas State University, in the Division of Biology, invites applications for a lab technician role focused on grassland arthropod ecology. The position is on-site and requires contributing to insect collection and data management within ongoing projects.

Ideal candidates have a high school diploma and a valid driver's license; preferred qualifications include a B.S. in ecology or related field, field experience, and data handling skills.

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma (or equivalent).
• Valid driver's license is required.
• Experience with insect samples or lab work preferred, not mandatory.
• Data management experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist with insect collection on grassland arthropod projects.
• Assist with Konza Prairie LTER grasshopper dataset and lab processing.
• Sort and identify arthropods in samples (80%), organize data on insect traits (10%), manage lab day-to-day tasks (5%), manage datasets and metadata (5%).

Skills

Driver's license

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

About This Role

The Grassland Arthropod Ecology Lab is in the Division of Biology at Kansas State University. We study what, how, and why grassland arthropod communities vary over space and time and the repercussions of this variation. Our lab is a welcoming and inclusive environment. We prioritize the well-being of all lab members and collaborators, and value scientific integrity, strong communication, work-life balance, and scientific mentoring and research opportunities for all experience levels.

About Us

The Division of Biology at Kansas State University is composed of a dynamic group of tenure-track, research, and instructional faculty, as well as a large number of postdoctoral research associates, graduate students, and support staff. All of these individuals are essential to accomplish the Division of Biology’s mission, to generate and disseminate high-quality biological scientific knowledge through teaching, research, service, and outreach. The research, teaching, and service interests of these individuals, spanning all areas of biological research, teaching and training at the postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate levels, as well as service and outreach contributions to the broader scientific community and the public.

Worksite Description

This position is On-site.

All employees must reside in the United States when they begin working to comply with state law. K-State is unable to provide remote or hybrid work opportunities for residents of the state of Idaho.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a high school diploma (or equivalent).
• Valid drivers license

Preferred Qualifications:

• B.S. in ecology, wildlife management, conservation, or other related field work
• Curatorial experience with insect samples
• Experience conducting field work
• Data management experience

Additional Role Information:

• The technician will assist with insect collection as part of research projects on grassland arthropod ecology.
• The technician will assist with both the Konza Prairie LTER grasshopper dataset and plant and insect processing from other research projects, with a focus on grasshoppers and bees. The technician will assist with lab tasks including:
  • Sorting and identifying arthropods in collected samples (80%)
  • Quantifying and organizing data regarding insect traits, and (10%)
  • Managing lab day-to-day operations such as receiving packages and buying supplies (5%)
  • Managing datasets and meta-data (5%)

Sponsorship eligibility:

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents:

1. Cover letter
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Contact information for three references

Application Window

Applications close on:September 25,2026

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

$16 Hrly