Graduate Assistant - Biology, Research Lab Assistant

Graduate Assistant
- Biology, Research Lab Assistant

The College of Graduate Studies (COGS) coordinates all of BSU's Graduate Assistantships. For more information on the program or for the status of your application, please contact:
Cassie Birch c1birch

Title
- Graduate Assistant
- Biology, Research Lab Assistant

Position

Description:

This Graduate Assistant (GA) position will support faculty-led research in biodiversity, wetland ecology, restoration, and conservation science while providing structured professional, academic, and career development for a master's student in Biological Sciences. Under the supervision of Dr. Surasinghe, the GA will contribute to ongoing research projects by assisting with field-based data collection, laboratory and field preparation, data management, organization and quality control, geospatial analysis, statistical analysis, and scientific dissemination of results.

The position is designed as a mentored research and training opportunity that advances the academic development of a master's student as an independent scientist while also supporting the research, teaching, and service mission of the department.

The primary responsibilities of the GA will include preparation, maintenance, and organization of field and sampling equipment; participation in standardized faunal and floral surveys in wetland and aquatic habitats; and collection of ecological data using established active and passive sampling methods. The GA will assist with documenting biodiversity across wetlands that vary in restoration status, recording habitat characteristics, and ensuring that field data are collected, entered, and archived accurately and consistently.

The GA will also help manage project data from field surveys, agency sources, and online databases to maintain organized, reproducible datasets for analysis and reporting.

The GA will manage and curate datasets derived from fieldwork, public databases, and online repositories. Responsibilities include data cleaning, quality control, metadata development, and preparation of datasets for analysis and long-term storage. Duties will include processing GIS and remote-sensing data, producing maps and spatial data products, and assisting with statistical analyses used to evaluate biodiversity patterns across space and time. The GA will be expected to develop increasing independence in data interpretation, figure preparation, and synthesis of findings.

Depending on project needs, the GA may also assist with literature review, protocol refinement, report preparation, and other research support activities necessary for project completion.

Training, mentoring, and leadership:
Assist in training undergraduate researchers in field methods, species identification, habitat assessment, data entry, and research professionalism within a collaborative and inclusive lab environment.

Outcomes of this Graduate Assistantship: A core component of this position is training in computational and emerging analytical approaches, including the responsible use of AI in ecological research. The GA will receive supervised training in the application of AI-assisted tools for tasks such as data processing, pattern recognition, coding support, literature synthesis, and reproducible workflow development. The GA will learn to critically evaluate AI-generated outputs, integrate AI tools into scientific problem-solving, and apply them in ways that adhere to research integrity, transparency, and reproducibility standards.

This training aligns with institutional priorities to integrate advanced technologies into research, teaching, and data-informed decision-making.

The GA will also develop proficiency in scientific writing and communication by contributing to manuscripts, technical reports, and conference presentations. Responsibilities include synthesizing results, preparing figures and tables, and participating in the development of peer-reviewed publications. The GA will gain experience communicating scientific findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.

In addition, the GA will develop leadership and mentoring skills by assisting in the training and supervision of…