Graduate Student - EARTH Education & Outreach

Position: Graduate Student Hourly - EARTH Education & Outreach

Position Overview

The Graduate Student Hourly will work closely with the Education & Outreach Director in the EARTH Engineering Research Center. This position provides hands‑on experience supporting STEM outreach, education programs, and community engagement. The role will assist with summer events and activities, materials development, logistics, and communication while learning how a large research center connects research to education and workforce pathways.

Job Description

• 40% Support Outreach & Educational Programming:
  Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing educational and outreach events such as summer pre‑college programs (e.g., EARTH Summer Venture), workshops, lab tours, and community‑oriented sessions.
• Help develop educational materials (presentations, handouts, lab‑tour guides, curricula outlines) that communicate EARTH's mission and goals to diverse audiences (high school students, parents, community partners).
• 25% Administrative & Coordination Support:
  Maintain records such as participant lists, scheduling, communication with programming faculty or external partners, outreach contacts, programming calendars and events.
• Assist with correspondence, email follow‑ups, and coordination between EARTH, program faculty, external participants, KU departments, and external vendors.
• Help with materials procurement, supplies management, and basic event planning tasks under supervision.
• 20% Communications & Documentation:
  Support social‑media, website, or newsletter updates summarizing outreach, events, student participation, and education‑related milestones.
• Document events and program outcomes (photos, attendance, feedback surveys), assist in compiling reports or summarizing results for internal review or public outreach.
• Help collect feedback, reflect on program success, and propose improvements or future ideas to the Education Director.
• 15% Engagement & Mentoring:
  Participate during outreach events (lab tours, hands‑on demos, summer‑venture programming), interacting with middle/high‑school students, parents/guardians, and educators.
• Provide support and guidance during hands‑on sessions.
• Assist in supporting mentorship programming by graduate students participating in summer programming.

Required Qualifications

Enrollment in a graduate program at KU.

Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Interest in higher education, outreach, workforce development, or STEM education.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with outreach, education, tutoring, event coordination, or student programming.

Comfort engaging with diverse audiences, including students, educators, and community members.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours.

For summer periods the student hourly must: (a) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (b) be pre‑enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (c) be enrolled in summer session or (d) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student hourly employees may be undergraduate or graduate students.

Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments do NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments.

Employment Conditions

Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.

This is an hourly/non‑exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non‑exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

Students should apply through the KU employment portal, under the Student Jobs section. Position follows KU student employment policies and hourly wage guidelines. Contact Jennifer Sprague with questions.

Contact Information to Applicants

Jennifer Sprague, M.S.E.

Education and Outreach Director

EARTH ERC, University of Kansas

j.sprague

Advertised Salary Range

$16.34/hr

Anticipated Start Date

Friday, May 1, 2026

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