Undergraduate Research Associate - TXPCA Project

University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is dedicated to promoting the conservation and cultivation of native plants through its gardens and programs. As the state botanic garden of Texas, the Wildflower Center is a significant Austin attraction and a national leader in native plant education, sustainable landscapes, land restoration, plant conservation, and research. It boasts the largest living collection of Texas native plants, attracts 300,000 visitors annually, has over 18,000 member households, and reaches more than 2 million people yearly via its popular native plant database. The Center's vision is to create thriving, native plant landscapes everywhere that support wildlife, enhance communities, and ensure ecological resilience for future generations. Wildflower Center staff are employees of the University of Texas at Austin and receive all associated benefits, including an annual membership to the Center, discounts on classes, access to events, and discounts at the Shop and Gallery. The work environment is inspiring, collaborative, beautiful, and filled with outstanding colleagues. This role offers UT Austin undergraduate students the chance to join the Wildflower Center’s science and conservation team, supporting our Texas Plant Conservation Alliance (TXPCA) ecological professional network. The work is highly collaborative and involves fieldwork, data collection, plant identification, data organization, outreach, and assisting with other conservation projects as needed. Students must be comfortable working outdoors and as part of a team. Specific tasks for the TXPCA include attending network meetings, creating social media posts, managing data sets, developing informative materials (flyers, brochures, etc.), and taking meeting notes.

Requirements

Must be a current undergraduate student at The University of Texas at Austin and meet the University's student employment eligibility requirements, including enrollment in at least six (6) semester credit hours for the long semesters (Fall/Spring), unless otherwise eligible under University policy.
Demonstrated interest in ecology, botany, environmental science, sustainability, or related field.
Experience with Canva or other digital creation platforms.
Willingness to work individually and as part of a team.
Willingness to work outside in a variety of weather conditions, including extreme heat and humidity.
Current Texas class C driver’s license.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Outreach and social media experience.
Research experience (field or lab).

Responsibilities

Assist with research and conservation focused activities such as field-based data collection, lab work, data entry etc.
Research and monitor plant conservation news, projects, and policy updates across Texas, and compile relevant information to share with TXPCA partners on the listserv and social channels.
Create social media content and posting schedule to highlight TXPCA partner organizations, rare plant conservation news, and promote TXPCA initiatives.
Attend TXPCA quarterly meetings, Steering Committee meetings, and Working Group meetings to take detailed notes and assist in preparing meeting summaries.
Design outreach materials including digital information sheets, flyers, and other promotional resources as needed.
Assist with organizing digital files, documents, and partner resources to improve accessibility of the TXPCA partner portal.
Regular meetings with Wildflower Center mentors.
Occasional participation in outreach or community engagement events. Students will assist with tours, lessons, or educational tabling as needed.
Presentation of ongoing or completed projects during lab meeting and/or Science Symposium at end of the semester.
Other duties as assigned.