Laboratory Research Assistant

Job Posting Title:

Laboratory Research Assistant

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Hiring Department:

Department of Marine Science

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

May 30, 2025

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2025

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Location:

PORT ARANSAS, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

A research technician position is available to work with Dr. Kelly Dorgan at The University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, TX, starting in May 2025. Research in the lab integrates ecology, biomechanics (including engineering theory and methods), and invertebrate behavior, morphology and physiology with engineering theory and methods, including development of new instrumentation. This position is intended for a research graduate (BS) looking to gain research experience before graduate school and will be a combination of conducting independent research and helping with field and lab work. The primary responsibility will be conducting laboratory experiments to observe and quantify behaviors of burrowing animals and impacts on sediments.

Responsibilities

• Laboratory experiment data collection, troubleshooting, and data analysis
• Infauna sample sorting (under a microscope)
• Field work to collect infauna and sediments
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• BS in a relevant field (marine science, biology, geosciences, or other)
• Previous research experience with sediment infauna
• Programming experience or willingness to learn programming

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience identifying infaunal invertebrates
• Experience with field work
• Experience with Matlab, R, Arduino, ImageJ

Salary Range

$31,200 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work in all weather conditions
• May work in remote marine or estuarine field sites, under especially hot conditions
• May work around standard office conditions
• May work around chemicals
• May work around electrical and mechanical hazards

Required Materials

To apply, submit the following materials:

• Resume/CV
• Letter of interest
• Contact information for 3 work references; at least one reference should be from a former or current supervisor

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.