Student Applied Sport Scientist

The University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

The University of Kansas is seeking an hourly student worker to support JAPL—an Applied Sport Scientist role focused on collecting, processing, and interpreting athlete health and performance data for collegiate teams.

This position involves hands‑on data collection, field testing, equipment setup, and data management, with opportunities to collaborate with faculty, staff, and sport partners. Flexibility for early mornings, evenings, or weekends is required.

Qualifications

• In good academic standing.
• Coursework or work experience in exercise science, kinesiology, biomechanics, physiology, sport science, athletic performance, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and professionally with students, faculty, staff, coaches, and student‑athletes.
• Professional experience which required strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to accurately follow established protocols, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, as evidenced by application materials.
• Basic proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office or comparable software, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle athlete and research data, as evidenced by application materials.

Responsibilities

• Assist with delivery of applied sports science services to JAPL sport team partners.
• Support athlete monitoring and performance assessment activities, including collection of physiological, biomechanical, workload, and performance measures.
• Assist with the setup, operation, and troubleshooting of sport science technologies and equipment.
• Assist with data collection for JAPL research studies involving athletes and sport teams.
• Prepare equipment, testing areas, and data collection materials before research sessions.
• Enter and maintain data in spreadsheets, databases, and other research systems.
• Conduct basic data quality checks and identify missing, inconsistent, or potentially erroneous data.
• Prepare technology and equipment for field‑based data collection and team sessions.
• Assist with troubleshooting equipment and software issues and communicate unresolved problems to appropriate JAPL personnel.
• Participate in JAPL meetings, training sessions, and professional development activities as appropriate.
• Assist with general JAPL operations and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Exercise science

Kinesiology

Biomechanics

Physiology

Sport science

Athletic performance

Professionalism

Education

Exercise science coursework

Tools

Excel

Job description

Position Overview

The Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (JAPL) is seeking an hourly student worker to serve as an Applied Sport Scientist supporting the laboratory’s research and applied sports science activities with collegiate and other sport team partners. This position will provide hands‑on experience in the collection, processing, and interpretation of athlete performance and health data while contributing to research projects designed to advance athlete health, performance, and development.

The Applied Sport Scientist will work closely with Jayhawk Athletic Performance Lab (JAPL) faculty, staff, graduate students, and sport team partners to support athlete monitoring, data collection, field‑based testing, and other applied sports science initiatives. The position is particularly well suited for a student interested in exercise physiology, biomechanics, sport science, human performance, athletic performance, or a related field who is seeking practical experience at the intersection of research and applied sport.

The position will involve both laboratory and field‑based work and may require working around team practice and competition schedules, including occasional early mornings, evenings, or weekends.

The preferred candidate will be familiar with technologies used in athlete monitoring or performance assessment (e.g., GPS, force plates, timing systems, heart‑rate monitoring, motion analysis, or other wearable sensors).

Job Description

30% - Applied Sports Science Support

• Assist with delivery of applied sports science services to JAPL sport team partners.
• Support athlete monitoring and performance assessment activities, including collection of physiological, biomechanical, workload, and performance measures.
• Assist with the setup, operation, and troubleshooting of sport science technologies and equipment.

25% - Research Data Collection

• Assist with data collection for JAPL research studies involving athletes and sport teams.
• Prepare equipment, testing areas, and data collection materials before research sessions.
• Collect and document research data in accordance with established protocols.

20% - Data Processing & Management

• Assist with downloading, organizing, cleaning, and processing data from athlete monitoring and research technologies.
• Enter and maintain data in spreadsheets, databases, and other research systems.
• Conduct basic data quality checks and identify missing, inconsistent, or potentially erroneous data.

10% - Equipment & Technology Support

• Prepare technology and equipment for field‑based data collection and team sessions.
• Assist with troubleshooting equipment and software issues and communicate unresolved problems to appropriate JAPL personnel.

10% - Research & Professional Development

• Participate in JAPL meetings, training sessions, and professional development activities as appropriate.

5% - Other Duties

• Assist with general JAPL operations and special projects as assigned.
• Communicate professionally and effectively with JAPL personnel, student‑athletes, coaches, researchers, and other sport partners.
• Perform other duties that support the mission and activities of the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory.

Required Qualifications

1. In good academic standing.
2. Coursework or work experience in exercise science, kinesiology, biomechanics, physiology, sport science, athletic performance, or a related field.
3. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and professionally with students, faculty, staff, coaches, and student‑athletes.
4. Professional experience which required strong attention to detail and demonstrated ability to accurately follow established protocols, as evidenced by application materials.
5. Demonstrated ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, as evidenced by application materials.
6. Basic proficiency with computers and Microsoft Office or comparable software, as evidenced by application materials.
7. Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle athlete and research data, as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Professional experience with exercise testing, athlete monitoring, sport science, biomechanics, or physiological data collection, as evidenced by application materials.
2. Experience working with collegiate or other competitive athletes, as evidenced by application materials.
3. Professional experience with Excel or other data management/analysis software, as evidenced by application materials.
4. Coursework in exercise physiology, biomechanics, statistics, research methods, or a related discipline.
5. Previous research experience, as evidenced by 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).

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.

Contact Information to Applicants
Thayne Munce
[e-mail]
785-864-2835

Advertised Salary Range$15.00 - $20.00 per hour

Anticipated Start DateSunday August 30, 2026