Undergraduate Research Assistant (Ant & Arthropod Identification) Fall 2025

University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX

128d • $12 - $15

About The Position

An Undergraduate Research Assistant will assist with long term research of ant communities at the Brackenridge Field Lab, located off the main UT campus, where science is studied and taught in an open and mentor-based environment. The student will sort and identify ants and other arthropods that have been collected in several long-term surveys of the ant community at the field station.

Requirements

• Current UT student in undergraduate program related to biological sciences.

Nice To Haves

• Entomology coursework.
• Use of stereo microscope, handling of fragile samples.
• Highly organized.
• Data recording experience.
• Responsible time management.
• A passion for learning and contributing.
• Team-oriented.
• Detail-oriented.
• Ability to maintain focus with repetitive tasks.
• Good communication skills, written and oral.

Responsibilities

• Familiarize self with protocol, research objectives and tasks.
• Plan and prepare materials and samples.
• Sort and group ant and arthropod samples into morphospecies.
• Prepare representative ants on pinned mounting points.
• Label specimens.
• Identify ants to genus (species if possible) using BFL ant guide and other keys.
• Identify other arthropod morphospecies to Order or Family using dichotomous keys.
• Curate all samples.
• Record the sample data in a Box spreadsheet.
• Write up a report on the activities.

Benefits

• Students in this position may choose to enroll in the UTSaver voluntary retirement programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees