Remember: The best way to get into a research lab is to be proactive and contact faculty members you are interested in working with directly!

There are a multitude of other research positions available at KU that do not appear on this list. Be sure to do your own research and reach out to professors who have interests that align to yours.

Look for Labs in the Department of Molecular Biosciences

Look for labs in Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Find out more about Getting Involved in Research

Openings in Biology Labs

The Lab of Professor Thomas McKenna

• Volunteer or Paid Position (If paid, what is the pay range?)
  • $15.00/hour
• How many hours a week?
  • Up to 10 during the semester and 35 to 40 during the summer
• How long will this position be available to the student?
  • Starting in April and going through August 2023
• What is the focus of your lab’s research?
  • Our main objectives are to understand perennial crop/soil microbial community interactions and how these relate to crop productivity and yield.
• What would a student be doing in your lab?
  • Field plot maintenance, collecting plant and soil samples in the field and greenhouse, processing plant and soil samples, and data entry. 
• Is there an opportunity for independent research?
  • Yes
• Is there anywhere for the student to go to find out more information about the position?
  • Project Description
• How should the student apply for the position?
  • JobID#:  24396BR

The Bever/Shultz Lab

Plant and Microbial Ecology Research Assistant

• Volunteer or Paid Position (If paid, what is the pay range?)
  • $15.00/hour
• How many hours a week?
  • Flexible during the academic year; M-F during the summer with start/end times varying dependent on weather conditions. 20 hours max during the academic year; 40 hours max during the summer
• What is the focus of your lab’s research?
  • The student will work closely with technicians, graduate students, and postdocs in the Bever/Schultz lab to assist in plant and microbial ecology research. During the summer the student will contribute to large scale ongoing field experiments by performing a variety of field work and general laboratory tasks, such as maintaining field plots, sampling and processing vegetation, and identifying plants. There is opportunity to stay with the lab into the Fall semester to assist with general laboratory and greenhouse tasks.  

    The ideal student will work near fulltime in the summer and work varying hours during the spring/fall semesters based on their availability and the lab’s research needs.

• What would a student be doing in your lab?

  • 40% -- collecting data from the field (e.g. plant biomass and percent cover)
    30% -- processing samples from the field (e.g. sorting and drying biomass)
    10% -- maintaining field experiments (e.g. weeding, mowing, irrigating)
    10% -- aiding in greenhouse/laboratory experiments (e.g. watering and potting plants, collecting data, and turning over experiments)
    10% -- entering data

• Anticipated Start Date: May 1

  • The May 1 start date is flexible, and we are willing to work with class schedules, with the anticipation that new hires will be able to begin full time starting May 15. We will begin reviewing applications on March 27 but will accept applications past that date.

• Is there anywhere for the student to go to find out more information about the position?
  • Interested students can contact Jaide Hawkins via email if they have follow-up questions: jaide.hawkins@ku.edu.
• How should the student apply for the position?
  • Job Application & Additional Info

Openings in Non-Biology Labs

We currently do not have any leads for Non-Biology Labs. However, if there is a professor you are interested in working with, do not hesitate to reach out to them about any openings they may have.