Student Insectary and Outreach Assistant

The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH

9h • Onsite

About The Position

This position is for a Student Insectary and Outreach Assistant within the Entomology Department at The Ohio State University. The role primarily involves animal care and lab work in the Insectary, including preparing diet, cleaning enclosures, rehousing animals, and preparing them for classroom and outreach use. The assistant will also maintain the lab and equipment, host guests, and assist in planning, performing, and leading internal and external outreach and engagement sessions such as lab tours, Bug boxes, and Bugmobile events. The role requires interacting with diverse audiences, including minors, families, and the general public. Eventual seasonal and event-based operation of department vehicles, including the Bugmobile, is expected. The position is temporary and offers varying shifts, with a maximum of hours allowed by the University per semester. Funding is preferentially through Federal Work Study.

Requirements

• Must be a current student at The Ohio State University
• Ability to operate independently during routine maintenance and care after training
• Ability to exercise discerning judgement and caution
• Ability to maintain impeccable safety standards
• Ability to perform high quality consistency and continuity of care
• Ability to learn proper handling of animals
• Ability to assist Curator in maintaining USDA standards for permit compliance
• Ability to be trained on and perform engagement sessions
• Ability to interact with/present to highly varied audiences
• Successful completion of a background check
• May be required to undergo a drug screen or physical during the post offer process

Responsibilities

• Responsible for animal care and lab work in the Insectary
• Prepare diet
• Clean enclosures
• Rehouse animals as necessary
• Prepare animals for classroom and Outreach use
• Maintain lab and equipment
• Host guests in lab
• Contribute weekly to the ongoing care of the arthropods in the Insectary (feeding, watering, and rehousing)
• Cultivate animal cultures and take care of individual animals
• Take care of plants, and other duties as needed in the course of caring for the living collection
• Exercise discerning judgement and caution, and maintain impeccable safety standards
• Perform high quality consistency and continuity of care
• Learn proper handling of animals
• Assist Curator in maintaining USDA standards for permit compliance
• Assist with tasks related to the continued functioning of the lab, and continued improvement of display quality
• Assist in planning, performing, and leading internal and external outreach and engagement
• Be trained on, and perform engagement sessions: Lab tours, Bug boxes, and Bugmobile events
• Interact with/present to highly varied audiences, such as minors, families, general public, shareholders, etc.
• Eventual seasonal and event-based operation of department vehicles, including the department truck and the Bugmobile
• Assist Curator with correspondence
• Lead outreach sessions
• Attend events

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage, with Ohio State paying a significant portion of the cost
• Paid time off, including sick and vacation time and 11 holidays
• State retirement plan or an alternative retirement plan, both with generous employer contributions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees