Insect Collection Student Research Assistant

Position OverviewThe Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum, Division of Entomology is hiring four student research assistants to support and advance the accessibility, curation, and publication of specimen data and images of the Snow Entomological Collection.Job DescriptionStudent research assistants will be mentored and supervised by experience Insect Collection members. They will contribute to the maintenance, organization and curation, accessibility, and databasing and imaging (digitization) of specimens of a large, research-based Insect Collection (~5 million individual insect specimens). Student research assistants will participate in select, prioritized collections and research projects in the Division of Entomology.

Tasks are flexible based on needs, student interests, skills, and experiences :

• Re-curation and rearrangement of sections of the collection (30%)
• Specimen preparation (mounting, labeling) and processing (30%)
• Entering and updating digitized specimen data and producing high-quality specimen images (25%)
• Additional curatorial or project contributions (15%)

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Position RequirementsDuring 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.Additional Candidate InstructionsA complete application consists of the online application, cover letter, and resume. Only complete applications will be considered.

To ensure consideration apply before the application review date 10 / 21 / 2025. A review of applications will continue until qualified candidates are identified. The posting removal is 12 / 21 / 2025 or once positions are filled.Contact Information to ApplicantsDr. Rachel Osborn : rachelkosborn@ku.eduAdvertised Salary Range$16.50 / hrAnticipated Start DateMonday December 1, 2025Apply to Job