Communications Assistant - Student

Position Overview

The Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research is seeking a student to create short videos and other content in support of our ecological research communications, primarily our social media presence, and to provide general assistance to the Communications Coordinator on a variety of communications projects. This position will provide the student with mentorship by communications professionals, as well as portfolio-building projects.

The student must be able to work independently and bring new ideas to the research center. We are interested in someone with strong reporting and writing skills; good news judgment; and the abilities to listen and ask questions, to take direction, to collaborate and to work across media. Strong communication, storytelling, and interviewing skills are more important than experience with any specific video software or equipment.

The ideal candidate will also have an enthusiasm for learning new types of software and equipment needed to produce content. Opportunity to continue position for several semesters.

The research center, located at Takeru Higuchi Hall on West Campus, operates from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. This position requires the ability to travel to Takeru Higuchi Hall and other local research, field, or event locations as needed.

• Create content for Kansas Biological Survey social media platforms, including Facebook and Linked In, through video, photography, graphics and written content.
• Identify and pitch content opportunities related to research, fieldwork, events and organizational priorities.
• Assist with content planning, scheduling and audience engagement.

• Interview researchers, students and staff (primarily at the Kansas Biological Survey) to gather information for communications projects.
• Develop written, visual, and multimedia content that communicates ecological research to a variety of audiences.
• Support the Communications Coordinator with reporting, writing, editing and other science communication projects.

• Capture photo and video content in offices, labs, and field sites, and at special events.
• Edit photo and video content for social media, websites and other digital platforms.
• Maintain and organize digital media assets.

• Assist with website updates, newsletters, special projects and other communications initiatives.
• Support outreach and promotional efforts for events and programs.

• Perform other communications-related duties in support of Kansas Biological Survey & Center for Ecological Research goals.

• Undergraduate or graduate student in journalism and mass communications or similar program.
• Availability to work four to eight hours per week, during normal business hours, on site in our offices on west campus, in blocks of at least two hours, during the Fall 2026 semester.
• Strong written communication skills, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365 programs as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize projects independently, meet deadlines and work with limited supervision, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to use phone or other cameras to capture photo and video content, as evidenced by application materials.

• Experience with Associated Press style, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience developing photo, video, graphic or other visual content, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience developing content for social media platforms, as evidenced by application materials.
• Professional experience which required self driven work, taking direction and contributing original ideas in a collaborative manner, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to focus and work on multiple projects simultaneously, as evidenced by application materials.
• Demonstrated ability to build professional working relationships with researchers, faculty, staff and students, as evidenced by application materials.

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: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall…