POOL: Student BESST Peer Mentor Research Assistant

Position Overview

The BESST Peer Mentor Research Assistant is a part of the Building Emerging STEM Scholars of Tomorrow (BESST) mentorship and research program. BESST connects juniors and seniors with federal work study to research opportunities and mentors. BESST Research Assistants will be paired with a research mentor and will work on a research project throughout the  academic year. There are many different research projects that you can choose to work on, including the fields of biology, geology, chemistry, database work, coding, engineering, archaeology, and more.

In addition to the research assistant work, you will also get paid to do monthly online training and attend in-person workshops that will help prepare you for conducting research, identifying and applying for internships, and preparing for a career or graduate school. This is a two-year program - students in satisfactory standing after their first year will continue the program into the second year.

Preferred candidates will have an interest in participating in a STEM research project, though a STEM major is not required. Additional information can be found at the BESST program page.

Job Description

• Conduct literature reviews.
• Assist in data collection.
• Assist in data entry.
• Digitize materials.
• Conduct data analysis.
• Present results of data analysis.

20% - BESST Student Development

• Complete online trainings on Canvas.
• Attend monthly workshops with fellow BESST research assistants.

Required Qualifications

• KU undergraduate student at junior or senior academic status (1-2 years left in your undergrad).
• Awarded Federal Work Study for  academic year.

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: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester.
  
  Student Hourlies 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

Contact Information to Applicants

Blair Schneider

blair.schneider

Advertised Salary Range

$15.00 per hour

Anticipated Start Date

Monday August 17, 2026

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