Undergraduate Research Assistant - GRAMA Project

Undergraduate Research Assistant - GRAMA Project

The University of Texas at Austin Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to inspiring the conservation and cultivation of native plants through its gardens and programs. The Wildflower Center is the state botanic garden of Texas, a treasured Austin gem, and a national leader in the field of native plant education, gardening, sustainable landscapes, land restoration, plant conservation and research.

It is home to the largest living collection of Texas native plants, welcomes 300,000 visitors annually, has over 18,000 member households and reaches more than 2 million people per year through its popular native plant database. The Center envisions thriving, native plant landscapes everywhere that nurture wildlife, uplift communities, and ensure ecological resilience for generations.

Wildflower Center staff are University of Texas at Austin employees receiving all associated benefits as well as an annual membership to the Center, discounts on Center classes, access to Wildflower Center events, and discounts at the Shop and Gallery. An inspiring, collaborative and beautiful work environment with outstanding coworkers awaits you.

UT Austin undergraduate students will have the opportunity to join the Wildflower Center's conservation team and support our Grassland Recovery after Multiple Alterations (GRAMA) DRAGNet and Drought Net project.

Potential tasks for GRAMA include vegetation surveys, data collection, soil moisture sampling, data entry, biomass collection / sorting, and drought structure repairs. Work will be highly collaborative and will include conducting fieldwork, data collection, plant identification, data organization, outreach, and supporting other conservation projects as needed. Students must be comfortable spending time outside and working as part of a team.

Position will start on September 9, 2026 or later and will end on November 29, 2026 (12 week position).

• Research activities (field-based data collection, lab work, data entry etc.) related to grassland recovery and supporting our conservation partnerships. Students will be paired with mentors depending on their project.
• Assist with research activities outside core focus area. This work will be highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, and may be involve assisting graduate students or other researchers from the University of Texas in the field or lab as needed.
• Regular meetings with Wildflower Center research 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.

• 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.
• 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.

• Research experience (field or lab).

This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident. Employees who are required to have a CDL are subject to drug and alcohol testing (pre-employment, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, random, return-to-duty, and follow-up drug and alcohol testing).

$18.00 per hour

• Fieldwork in a variety of habitats and weather conditions, including bright sun, heat, and humidity.
• Comply with all safety policies, practices, and procedures. Report all unsafe activities to supervisors.

• Exact schedule TBD, but it will consist of 12 hours per week - one full day (8 hours), and one half day (4 hours) Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.

NOTE:

Without all 3 documents listed below, we cannot consider your application. Please read through submittal instructions to ensure your application is correct and complete.

• Resume/CV
• Letter of interest/Cover Letter
• 3 work references with their contact information, should include phone number and email address; at least one reference should be from a supervisor.